After more than six months of hard work, the Cayman Arts Festival’s Youth Brass Ensemble made its debut, performing at the festival’s monthly concert series, ‘Music at the Library’ held at George Town Public Library on 30 May.
The sold-out audience was taken on a journey of musical performances by trumpeters Faith Mendiola-Jackson, James Macdonald, Baker Dyck, Jaheem Hayles, Daeniell Pink and Samita Ghosh; tuba player Reuben Sweetman and trombonists Evan Moore, Ryan Nock and Simon Nock.
The Youth Brass Ensemble entertained audience members with the accompaniment of Master Trumpeter Rodney Marsalis, local music educator Cody Gifford, and Marsalis’s friend and trumpeting colleague Timothy Hudson.
Together they performed a variety of musical pieces, including ‘Amazing Grace‘, George Gershwin’s ‘Someone to Watch Over Me‘, a medley of Michael Jackson hit songs, and a traditional New Orleans ‘second line’.
“To see where these students are musically compared to when they started is quite remarkable,” said Glen Inanga, artistic director for CAF in a press release.
“Marsalis, who is part of the famed family of American trumpeters that includes his cousins Wynton Marsalis and Branford Marsalis, has been working with the students since last year.”
Brass player and student at Triple C school Daeniell Pink told the Compass that her experience practicing with seasoned musicians for the showcase was informative and enriching.
“We had the chance to refine our techniques, improve our timing, and enhance our musicality when playing, thanks to people at the head such as Mr. Rodney as well as Mr. Gifford,” Pink said.
“The brass retreat hosted by Mr. Rodney allowed myself and other members of the Cayman Brass to be given a rare opportunity to learn from some seriously amazing musicians in the field like Tim Hudson, Natalie Dungey, and Charles Schlueter.”
Pink said it was amazing to perform for audience members after the effort the group had put in to prepare and that she was grateful to Cayman Arts Festival for creating the opportunity for brass players.
Marius Gaina, CAF executive director, told the Compass that CAF has intensified its focus on its brass program and hopes to match volume of students and success achieved by the CAF string program.
“This initiative aims to offer the community an alternative to string events and education, enriching the local musical landscape. CAF intends to enroll more students in this program, hoping to reestablish brass bands in schools as they existed in previous years,” Gaina said.
The 2023-24 Cayman Arts Festival season continues with the sold-out performance of ‘Mamma Mia’ by the Cayman Youth Choir being held on 12 June, and a performance of the CAF Youth Camerata at the John Gray High School Performance Hall on 14 June at 5pm. For tickets and more information on upcoming events, check out caymanartsfestival.com.
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