New Kingstown Chorale celebrates 60th anniversary

“You come in, you stay. That seems to be the hallmark… Persons don’t just leave the Chorale.”

And it is for this very reason – outlined by the New Kingstown Chorale’s business manager — that the musical group is celebrating its 60th year since inception.{{more}}

Yesterday, April 11, the New Kingstown Chorale hosted a press conference at the Methodist Church Hall to highlight the year of activities planned to commemorate the milestone achievement.

“It has been quite an interesting ride over the years with the Chorale,” enthused business manager and chorale member Gillian John.

With 35 active members, the Chorale kicked off its anniversary activities last year with a Christmas show ‘Sip, Snack and Sing’, which took place at the Beachcombers Hotel.

Following that, there was a series of ‘Midday Meditations’ at the Kingstown Methodist Church during the Lenten season; and there is an upcoming thanksgiving service on Sunday, April 17, at the Kingstown Methodist Church (5 p.m.), which the general public is invited to attend.

Throughout the rest of the year, the Chorale will be taking part in community outreach work that highlights traditional, local music; and there will be another Christmas showcase to end the year of celebratory activities.

Musical director Jeanne Horne also gave brief remarks, highlighting a project that she is working on, which will see her compiling the musical arrangements that founder and renowned Vincentian musician Patrick Prescod had done for the group.

“He just didn’t stick to any particular genre; he had works that he arranged – Christmas music, traditional music – but I think his forte was the Vincentian music. So, we have quite a few folk songs, calypsos… that he has arranged just for the Chorale.”

The musical director said that she hopes this compilation project can not only be used by other musical groups, but also within the schools’ music curriculum.

“They are so very rich in harmony. Pat had a particular style that I don’t think anybody else has. The music is so beautiful that we don’t want it to go to waste after we have gone – we really want it to go on.”

Regarding her role as musical director, Horne said that as Pat Prescod’s successor, she has been doing this for 27 years, but it was initially a role that she did not relish taking on.

“After 27 years, I must say that it has been a very rewarding time for me. Not always easy; sometimes I question myself… but I think the function that Pat outlined very early, that still holds good today, to provide for its members, chorale and musical training, as well as pleasant recreation, to contribute to the cultural improvement of the community, to produce the best standard of chorale singing. And I have no doubt that we have maintained those standards throughout the years. That I am extremely proud of.”

The musical director also expressed concern at two issues she believes afflict St Vincent and the Grenadines in terms of developing musical talent.

She said the lack of regular music festivals has been detrimental to the community, in terms of the numbers of younger person who are interested and involved in music; and she also lamented the lack of a cultural centre where proper acoustics, lighting and physical space can be catered to.

Also speaking at the press conference was John Horne, a long-standing member of the Chorale.

Outlining the history of the choir, which was founded in 1956 by Patrick Prescod, Horne recalled that it was first called The Kingstown Chorale Group, which changed over time to its present name.

He further recounted the numerous achievements of the group, which include several wins at the National Music Festival, attending Carifesta on several occasions regionally, and performing with the Marionettes (famous Trinidadian musical band), in both St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.

He also noted that the New Kingstown Chorale has toured not only regionally, but also internationally – having performed to several sold-out venues in places such as the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

In addition to touring and putting on concerts locally, the choir has undertaken several charitable endeavours over the years.

Horne added: “We would like to thank the many persons who have supported us over the years, and we look forward to their continued support!” (JSV)