National Secondary School Bands Showcase achieves its objectives – Small

With musical performances across several genres, students participating in the second annual National Secondary School Bands Showcase thrilled the audience gathered at the ET Joshua Airport Tarmac on Saturday March 23.

The students, from throughout the length and breadth of the country, included some 150 musicians from 12 bands.

Musical genres performed included reggae, gospel, pop, Soca and dancehall.

Co-ordinator of Creative Industries in the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture Rodney Small, one of the persons responsible for the event, told SEARCHLIGHT that the event was a major success based on the objectives.

The objectives included preparing the bands for the business side of music, as well as for performances in hotels, national functions, parties and private events. Also, for students to put what they learn in the classroom on show.

Small said that the ground work leading up to the event, which included going into the schools was enjoyable and cemented his view that music education should be retained and supported in schools.

He added that during one of the workshops leading up to the event, he became very emotional when a female student said that one of the reasons she performs music is because it is her way of expressing herself.

“We wanted to create an avenue for young musicians and motivate them and give them a taste of the big stage and we did that and also attracted sponsors so that is great,” Small stated.

“I think the event is extremely important because it is another showcase of what is happening in schools in the music programs, as it helps the students move from what they learnt in theory to a practical demonstration and helps motivate them and give them an opportunity to express themselves,” Small said.

The St Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers Cooperative Credit Union (SVGTCCU) is the main sponsor of the event and has pledged its support for four years.

The schools involved and their sponsors are: Vita Malt Central Leeward Secondary, National Insurance Services Emmanuel High School Mesopotamia, Agricultural Input Warehouse Thomas Saunders Secondary, Arabesque Shipping Bishop’s College Kingstown, Tus-t Water Troumaca Ontario Secondary, Bank of St Vincent and the Grenadines St Vincent Grammar School, First Caribbean International Bank St. Martins Secondary School, CDC Bethel High School, Coreas Distribution West St George Secondary, National Lotteries Authority Intermediate High School, RJR Sandy Bay Secondary and the POSSE Snacks Social Experiment Band.

The 2019 School Bands Showcase was held under the theme “Bringing a Modern Approach to Music Education.”