The Guyana Musical Arts Festival is set for staging on April 26-30, 2011, at the National Cultural Centre where a multitude of local talent will be competing for recognition and a series of prizes. This festival has it origins from 1952 and will be held under the patronage of Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, in collaboration with the Guyana Musical Arts Festival Inc, the Guyana Music Teachers Association, the Woodside Choirs International M.S. and the Partners Program of the Lutheran Church of Tulsa in Guyana.
The Festival was officially launched on August 13 at the Pegasus International Hotel. As a prelude the stage is being set for Music teachers and participants in the upcoming Guyana Musical Arts Festival to be granted the opportunity to receive training for the event at a series of workshops to be conducted during September.
These ‘training for trainers’ workshops are organized by the Planning Committee of the Guyana Musical Arts Festival and will be staged on September 11 and 12 at the Bishops’ High School, Carmichael Street, Georgetown, and September 18 and 19 at St. Theresa’s Pastoral Centre, Pope Street, New Amsterdam, East Berbice. All workshops will begin at 09:00hrs and conclude at 18:00hrs.
Training will be provided for vocalists, choir directors, verse and choral speakers and poets (dramatic poetry). Persons interested in participating are asked to contact the Festival Office, Dewar’s Music School, 221 Charlotte Street, Bourda, Georgetown, telephone; 223-1069 or 226-3052.
By Mondale Smith