By Cayman Compass contributor Christopher Tobutt
The George Town Public Library glowed with warmth and melody on the evening of 27 Nov. as the students in CayMusicA’s ‘Starlight’ music education programme presented a special Music at the Library performance titled ‘Harmony in Thanksgiving’.
It wasn’t a Christmas concert in the strict sense, yet the spirit of the season – gratitude, joy, and togetherness – filled every note.
The programme opened with the St. Ignatius String Quartet, its rich harmonies breathing life into ‘The First Noel’.
Then came a burst of youthful energy: the Starlight Junior Clarinets, four bright-eyed players from Edna Moyle Primary School, accompanied by the ever-dedicated Fran McConvey, Head of the Starlight programme. Their playful renditions of Frosty the Snowman, Up on the Housetop, and Jingle Bells had the audience smiling and tapping along. These simple tunes, steeped in tradition, sparkled under their eager fingers – a reminder that joy often comes in familiar melodies.
The mood shifted to grandeur as Thian Bodden took the stage. A sixth form student who began violin at Red Bay Primary at age eight, Thian delivered Handel’s Arrival of the Queen of Sheba with poise. The piece, a lively sinfonia from the oratorio Solomon, danced through the library like a royal procession – bright, bustling, and full of life.
The elegance continued with a flute duet: Charlotte Gothar leading the melody and Angie Ewers weaving harmonies in Mozart’s jubilant Alleluia. Their interplay was a conversation in sound – light, airy phrases floating like ribbons in the air.
Jude Solomon, a gifted cellist from St. Ignatius, offered Bach’s Sarabande from the C Major Suite – a stately, contemplative dance – followed by Fauré’s Sicilienne, tender and wistful, and finally Aaron Minsky’s Truckin’ Through the South, a ragtime romp full of syncopated swagger. From Baroque elegance to modern zest, Jude’s versatility shone.
Charlotte Gothar returned for Monti’s fiery Czardas, a Hungarian dance that begins in dreamy languor before picking up speed and bursting into dazzling virtuosity – the seamless changes from joyful to melancholy and back-rendered perfectly.
The Starlight Cello Quartet brought shimmering depth to Angels We Have Heard on High, their bows weaving harmonies which seemed to dance through the library’s vaulted space.
The evening closed with the Starlight String Ensemble, filling the library with beloved carols and seasonal favourites including Carol of the Bells, Deck the Halls, and the nostalgic Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. A tender cello solo of Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire by Thian added a final touch of warmth, and the ensemble’s heartfelt Let There Be Peace on Earth left the audience glowing.
Thanks to programs like CayMusicA and mentors like Fran McConvey, Cayman’s next generation of musicians is not only learning technique – they’re learning to share joy. And on this night, they gave us a gift: harmony, hope, and the promise of peace.
Christopher Tobutt is a freelance journalist who has written for various publications in the Cayman Islands since 2003.
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