News Releases

UWI Arts Chorale and UWI Steel celebrate Africa at annual Christmas concert

For Release Upon Receipt - November 23, 2011

St. Augustine


One of the country’s premier choral ensembles and its brother in steel present a treat for the eyes and ears at their annual Christmas concert on Sunday 4th December, 2011, at 6:30 pm, at the Daaga Auditorium, UWI St. Augustine Campus.

The UWI Arts Chorale and UWI Steel have dedicated this year’s concert to the United Nations’ “Year of People of African Descent.” Titled “Go Tell It,” the concert will include theatrical readings and diverse carols from the African Diaspora, including music from Haiti and Nigeria.

Additionally, the Chorale will perform contemporary classical works by American and Canadian composers including Franz Biebl’s “Ave Maria,” and Healey Willan’s “Lo in the Time Appointed,” accompanied by the UWI Steel. The UWI Steel will also perform classical works and parang.

UWI Arts Chorale soloists Adafih Padmore (soprano), Vidia Haroo (mezzao-soprano) and Krisson Joseph (baritone) will sing featured numbers, while Mikhel Carter (Vibraphone) and Antiguan sensation, Khan Cordice (double seconds), will perform a surprise Christmas classic.

The UWI Arts Chorale is the resident Chorale ensemble at the University’s Department of Creative and Festival Arts. Directed by Jessel Murray, this 80-member strong Chorale comprises present and former students of the UWI community, music enthusiasts and professionals.

Over the years, the Chorale has become known for its eclectic repertoire that challenges audiences with new musical sounds and ideas. The ensemble has most recently presented works such as Bernstein's "Chichester Psalms" (2009) and Britten's "A Ceremony of Carols" with Harp accompaniment (2010).The Chorale also participated in the Trinidad All Stars 75th Gala Anniversary Celebration at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in 2010.    

Since 2005, the UWI Arts Chorale, through its production company Must Come See Productions, has become the national leader in the presentation of musical theatre programmes. It recently presented its June 2011 offering, "Peter Pan," at Queen's Hall where it featured the use of ground-breaking theatrical "flying" - the first use of such a device in Trinidad.

The UWI Steel comprises 20 of the finest players of steel instruments at the DCFA and won the first prize at the World Steelband Festival in Trinidad in 2003. Since then, the ensemble has performed its own eclectic mix of music including piano concertos with Guyanese concert pianist, Ray Luck (2005), and was specially chosen by Ray Holman to record the music for his CD, “Changing Time,” in 2006.

Tickets are priced at $125 each and are available at the Department of Creative and Festival Arts on Gordon and Agostini Streets, S.t Augustine, and from Chorale members.

For further information, please contact the UWI Arts Chorale at 743-0841, 398-8576, or via e-mail at uwi.arts.chorale@gmail.com.

 

 

About UWI

Over the last six decades, The University of the West Indies (UWI) has evolved from a fledgling college in Jamaica with 33 students to a full-fledged University with over 40,000 students. Today, UWI is the largest and most longstanding higher education provider in the English-speaking Caribbean, with main campuses in Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, and Centres in Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Christopher (St Kitts) & Nevis, St Lucia, and St Vincent & the Grenadines. UWI recently launched its Open Campus, a virtual campus with over 50 physical site locations across the region, serving over 20 countries in the English-speaking Caribbean. UWI is an international university with faculty and students from over 40 countries and collaborative links with over 60 universities around the world. Through its seven Faculties, UWI offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Engineering, Humanities & Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Pure & Applied Sciences, Science and Agriculture, and Social Sciences.

(Please note that the registered name of the university is The University of the West Indies, inclusive of the “The”, hence The UWI.)

 

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