Brac and Little Cayman medallists entertain full house
A fundraising concert is scheduled at the Brac Agricultural Grounds on Saturday, 26 May featuring everybody’s favourite performers, but a function at the Aston Rutty Centre last Saturday in Cayman Brac showcased a new generation of local talent.
Primary and high school students showed a full house why they had won bronze, silver and gold medals in the recent National Children’s Festival of the Arts competition. Master of ceremonies Mark Knowlton introduced the acts and shared some of the judges’ comments – stage presence being one important quality. Certainly most of the soloists and groups looked comfortable and seemed to enjoy their tasks.
Mr. Knowlton also said the Brac does not have a specialist music teacher for the primary schools; everything the students accomplished was with the guidance of regular classroom reachers or community volunteers.
Among the original or adapted material offered was a duet by students from the Little Cayman Education Services, with a localised version of the American “This Land is My Land” including all the well-loved places from Owen Island to the Point of Sand. An all-girl steel pan band from Creek and Spot Bay Primary showed they understood the value of silence in the middle of rhythm and melody, while the Concert Choir of Layman Scott High School projected personality along with the harmonies of “Any Dream Will Do”.
While all the groups were well received, mention must be made of the soloists because no matter how much the community may know and love one of its own, it still takes courage to be in the spotlight alone. Anitha Velusamy played piano; Yesenia Ebanks and Mara McLean presented poems. O’Laro Waite declaimed “The Strife of Life” that combined scriptural references with the stresses of modern times.
Vocalists taking the stage were Fraulein Whorms, Diana DeMarcado and Antonia Mena. Katherine Tatum not only sang but returned later with a guitar solo and Deandra Watson performed a dance. West End Primary had three star soloists – Cassandra MacDowell, Channah Connor, and Lashay Frederick.
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