With the preliminaries now over and developmental workshops out of the way, the third phase of the Schools Music Festival – the Semi-finals – is about to start.

The first semi-final targeting primary school students will be held at Combermere School, Waterford, St. Michael, on Saturday, February 25, from   4:00 p.m.

A total of 17 private and public primary schools will participate in this semi-final. These are: Ignatius Byer, Bay Primary, Hillaby Turner’s Hall, Gordon Walters, Hindsbury, Trinity Academy, Hilda Skeene, St. Ursula’s Convent – St. Angela’s, St. John’s, Grantley Prescod, St. Joseph, Arthur Smith, Mount Tabor, Codrington, The Rock Christian, St. Luke’s Brighton and St. Cyprian’s Boys’.

The following day, Sunday, February 26, at 4:00 p.m., 13 secondary schools will be on stage at Combermere School for the second semi-final. They are: Ursuline Convent, Harrison College, Seventh Day Adventist, The Alleyne, The St. Michael, Combermere, The Lodge, Frederick Smith Secondary, Coleridge and Parry, Parkinson Memorial, Codrington, Lester Vaughan, and Grantley Adams Memorial schools.

Conceptualised in 2015 by the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, the Schools’ Music Festival is a biennial schools’ musical development activity. Its key goal is to develop musical talent in all forms in our nation’s students.

Education Officer for Music in Schools, Joy Knight-Lynch, said: “This festival is not only a competition, but it provides a platform for musical excellence and allows music teachers to highlight the tremendous work they are doing in the schools. It provides our young musicians with an opportunity to showcase their talents in a competitive situation, in front of a jury, while developing performing skills and improving musical standards.”

The preliminaries saw over 40 schools entered in the competition in all categories. As a result, there is expected to be keen participation in six main categories, namely: Solo Vocal, Solo Instrumental, Small Vocal Ensemble, Large Vocal Ensemble, Small Instrumental Ensemble and Large Instrumental Ensemble. The finals of the competition are scheduled for Sunday, March 19, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Two Mile Hill, St. Michael, at 5:00 p.m.

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To effectively plan and execute the entire event, the Education Ministry is once again working with a number of sponsors. These include: A & B Music Supplies; Partners That Care International, which has assisted with the developmental workshops; and the Barbados Government Information Service.

“This collaboration with our partners will ensure a successful festival,” Mrs. Knight-Lynch said, adding that coming out of the event she expects there would be an increase in student dedication, attention to detail, motivation and a strong drive for success.

Chief Judge of the Schools’ Music Festival 2017 is Washbrook Bayne, a former Chief of the Pic O De Crop Finals.

Members of the public are invited to attend both the semi-finals and finals and support the students. Tickets are available at participating schools, as well as box offices located at CS Pharmacy (Bridgetown) and A & B Music Supplies Ltd. (Sheraton).

Parents or guardians requiring further information on the music festival may contact Mrs. Knight-Lynch by calling 535-0686, or emailing joyknightlynch@live.com.

joy-ann.gill@barbados.gov.bb

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