Series Of Concerts Starts Tonight.
THE Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in collaboration with the Saint Lucia School of Music are currently hosting the Maturin Chamber Youth Orchestra of Venezuela until July 18.
While in Saint Lucia, the visiting orchestra of approximately 40 musicians from the state of Monagas will conduct a one week intensive orchestral workshop targeted at over 200 youth from across Saint Lucia. In addition to the workshop, the orchestra will make a series of concert appearances.
The visit marks the fifth collaborative activity between the Saint Lucia School of Music and the Venezuelan National System of Children’s Youth Choirs and Orchestras known as “El Sistema”, facilitated by the Venezuelan Embassy with the support of the Government of Saint Lucia.
The current visit is expected to further advance efforts at creating a sustainable systematic orchestral training programme for Saint Lucian youth and music teachers island wide and to increase public and private sector support for the establishment of a fully functioning Saint Lucian National Youth Orchestra.
The workshop, which began yesterday at the Castries Comprehensive Secondary School and ends on Thursday. It is open to all Saint Lucian youth currently studying music in wind, string, percussion, guitar and choral instruments and is subject to a $10.00 registration fee.
Planned concerts by the Maturín Chamber Youth Orchestra include a benefit concert on this evening at 7:30 p.m. at the MUSICBOX at the Golden Palm Event Center in Rodney Heights, a community concert tomorrow at 5:00 p.m at the Laborie Catholic Church and a final event with Saint Lucian and Venezuelan youth performing together at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Castries on Thursday, at 6:00 p.m.
Executive Director of the Saint Lucia School of Music, Mr. Richard Payne, has expressed appreciation to the friends and contributors who have assisted thus far in helping meet some of the associated costs of staging this activity. In particular, The Rotary Club of Saint Lucia and The Rotary Club of Gros Islet respectively, made matching contributions of $3,000.00 each to assist with the provision of necessary feeding during the workshop.