National Festival Set For January.
IT’S music month in the island’s schools and the newly established Interim Executive of the St. Lucia Association of Music Educators (SLAME) has organized a series of activities to mark the occasion.
It is well known throughout St. Lucia that the Feast of St. Cecilia (Musicians’ Feast) is celebrated on November 22 of every year. However, Saint Lucia’s music educators within the school system have seen the need for an entire month of celebration as it creates an avenue to give credence and the necessary recognition to music education in our school system.
During the celebration of ‘Music Month’ the students are given the opportunity to perform, interact with performing musicians from the various communities and witness exhibitions of various musical instruments from the Saint Lucian Folk Band and the Orchestra.
Students are also given opportunities in the classroom environment to listen to and appreciate local music including St. Lucian folk music, Saint Lucian Calypso and nation-building songs. They are also made aware of the pioneers and great contributors to local music and given opportunities to listen to their musical works.
The grand finale of the schools’ events will be held around the closest school day to or just after St. Cecilia’s Day and schools around the island will be hosting concerts, karaoke shows/competitions etc. These events are also a means of showcasing the talent of students. The schools as usual will be extending invitations to musicians and bands from the various communities to perform and assist them with their events.
A significant national schools musical event under the management and direction of the CAMDU, Curriculum Officers for Music also commences during ‘Music Month’. This event is the preliminaries for the individual and group performers (vocal and instrumental) to participate in the National Schools Music Festival which will be taking place during the celebration of the Nobel Laureate Week of activities in January 2016.
The first District Preliminary Festival was held on Monday, for District 3 schools at the St. Joseph’s Convent and the final will be held on Friday, November 20 for District 7 Schools at a venue to be announced.
All school districts will be hosting their own preliminary district music festivals.
The Interim Executive of SLAME has appealed to all individual musicians and bands to assist the various schools located in their communities by demonstrating their willingness to perform for the students and at their respective school concerts.
Said a SLAME release: “Musicians should always maintain the awareness that the children are the future of Saint Lucia’s music industry and by extension the sustenance of Saint Lucian culture and heritage. You should ensure that your knowledge and experience are passed on to the younger ones”.