On Wednesday April 26th, the Marionettes Chorale will present A Concert of Festival Champions, in celebration of the wondrous talent showcased at this year’s Trinidad & Tobago Music Festival.
The evening will feature a variety of musical styles and talent, ranging from classical to folk, steel pan to African classical ensemble, with guest performances by: Jeunes Agape, choir (Olive Walke Memorial Trophy, Joslynne Sealey Trophies I and II); Germaine Wilson, vocalist (Dorrell Philip Trophy, May Johnstone Commemorative Trophy); Sacred Heart Girls, choir (Desmond Waithe Trophy); Golden Hands, steel band (Fitzgerald Jemmot Memorial Trophy); The Entertainers, instrumental ensemble (Trinity Award); Lesley Lewis, vocalist (Havelock Nelson Cup); Elijah Lee, pannist (first place, pan solo under 12 years); and Jesse Ryan, saxophonist (J.T. Johnson Cup).
It will also showcase the successes of the Marionettes’ own Festival winners, including: Vanessa Bushe (Gatcliffe Cup, Chesterton Ali Trophy, Subscribers’ Cup, Norah Grant Trophy; Jean Abdool Trophy); Feryal Qudourah (Holitzia Seecharan Trophy, May Johnstone Cup, Richard ffrench Trophy); Tahira Osborne (Trinidad Broadcasting Cup, Merle Albino-De Coteau Trophy); Shari Fitzpatrick (May Johnstone Cup); Dawn & Danielle Williams (Dave Maharaj Trophy); and Johanna Chuckaree (Edna Haynes Trophy).
In the 2006 Festival, Marionettes members – both from the senior and junior choirs – won 11 championship trophies; two adjudicators’ awards; 18 first places; nine second places; and 11 third places. These members continue a tradition of excellence that the Marionettes Chorale has had at the Festival, despite having retired unbeaten as a group in 1980. Before withdrawing from national competition, the Marionettes were multiple winners of the JCC Cup for Best Adult Choir; the Mary Elizabeth Evans Cup for Best Religious and Church Choir; the Merchants Trophy for Best Adult ‘X’ Class Choir; Olive Walke Shield for Best All Round Choir; Ashdown Cup for Best Religious Choir (Over 20 Singers); the Lions Trophy for Best Choir of the Festival; and the Founder’s Trophy (May Johnstone Commemoration Trophy) for Most Outstanding Performer of the Festival.
A Concert of Festival Champions (Recital 6) takes place at the Queen’s Hall on Wednesday 26th April at 8:00pm. Tickets are $100 and available from Chorale members and from the Queen’s Hall Box Office (tel: 624-1284).
