The Lydians to present Roots

The Lydian Singers will present a pre-Emancipation celebration concert titled Roots: D’ Rhythm Within, under the direction of Dr Leah Brown. The event is being supported by First Citizens bank.

The concert will explore the musical influences of Sub-Saharan Africa throughout the diaspora and specifically in Trinidad and Tobago, a media relase said.

The event will also see the debut of The Lydian youth choir, Tecomas, as well The Lydian Singers and The Lydian Steel will deliver a cultural extravaganza that commemorates 38 years of the declaration of the Emancipation Day holiday in TT. It will also celebrate the International Decade for the People of African Decent.

The music will comprise a mixture of local, regional, and international favourites with a few surprise performances, the release said.

The Lydians Tecomas represents the future and the youth choir has been formed with the mindset that music education and participation in the arts have long been known to improve the lives of youth from both an academic and social perspective.

The youth arm is really the Lydians' youth development and music education programme, catering to students ages 10-18, a media release said. It is led by newly-appointed musical director (Jr choir) Shurvone M Brathwaite, a longstanding musician with a multi-disciplinary specialisation in performance, education and administration, the release said.

Tobago-born Brathwaite holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a specialisation in performance and ethnomusicology from UTT, a certificate in business entertainment from UWI Roytec, as well as Master of Education in International Teaching from Framingham State University.

He is principal clarinetist in the National Philharmonic Orchestra since 2014; a teacher since 2010, and has presented performances and worked with primary schools such as the Moulton Hall Methodist School, Port of Spain, and overseen woodwind ensembles at the Maria Regina Grade School.

He also serves as an adjudicator on the St Joseph Carnival Committee for the annual regional junior parade of the bands and has also adjudicated the annual regional calypso competition, the release said.

He is certified by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, Train the Trainer Certified and AML/CFT Certified.

Roots: D’ Rhythm Within, begins at 7 pm on July 15, and 6 pm on July 16 at The Central Bank Auditorium, Port of Spain.

More info:

https://bit.ly/LydiansROOTS.

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