Secondary School Students Showcase Outstanding Talent

The 43rd Annual National Children’s Festival of the Arts (NCFA) kicked off with secondary school adjudications in early February, culminating in a Secondary Final Concert on Wednesday, 25 February at the Harquail Theatre.

This year, the NCFA received 176 entries from public, private, and homeschool students across Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac. Adjudicators awarded five platinum, 73 gold, 62 silver, and 34 bronze awards, reflecting the remarkable calibre of the participants.

The top-scoring performers returned for the Secondary Final Concert, an evening highlighting technical excellence, creativity, and confident stage presence. The evening featured 23 platinum and gold award-winning performances from 13 schools, showcasing exceptional talent in dance, drama, music and speech.

Director of the Department of Education Services, Mr. Mark Ray, attended the concert and reflected on the festival’s broader impact:

“The NCFA fosters creativity, discipline, and confidence, giving our young people a stage to explore their talents. This year’s performers demonstrated an impressive standard, raising the bar for excellence in the arts. The dedication we see from both students and educators reminds us why the arts are so vital to education in the Cayman Islands.”

Among the standout performers was platinum award recipient Hristina Nachev, a homeschool student, who captivated the audience with a powerful and compelling vocal performance. Reflecting on the experience, she shared, “I love music and believe I should share the gift that God has graced me with to the world. Music has always been a big part of my life, and I always look forward to the next NCFA season.”

The NCFA continues with primary school adjudications and final concerts, which are open to the public:

• Cayman Brac Primary Adjudications: 17 April

• Grand Cayman Primary Adjudications: 20–24 April

• Cayman Brac Final Concert (Secondary & Primary): 2 May

• Grand Cayman Primary Final Concerts: 7–8 May

For more information, contact DES Senior Customer Service Manager Kimberly Kirkconnell at 945-1199 or DESSchoolEvents@gov.ky .