Cayman Arts Festival Junior Orchestra performs debut concert

The Cayman Arts Festival Junior Orchestra played a selection of classical and well-known pieces in its debut concert at John Gray High School Performance Hall on Saturday, 12 April.

The orchestra is made up of more than 50 music students from various schools across Grand Cayman and is part of Cayman Arts Festival’s instrumental education programme.

 Fran McConvey, head of music at John Gray High School and the driving force behind Cayman Arts Festival’s educational programmes, provided more details on the orchestra. 

“The CAF Instrumental Programme targets gifted and talented students who would not otherwise have an opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument,” she said. “Cayman Arts Festival sponsors an intermediate orchestra and Camerata – the orchestra for advanced student musicians – but until now we have not had a junior orchestra.”

McConvey said most of the junior musicians in the orchestra are involved in ensemble classes on Saturdays at John Gray High School. Students who played in Saturday’s concert came from a large cross section of Grand Cayman schools, including John Gray and Clifton Hunter High Schools, six different government primary schools, four private schools.

“All of the students are members of the Cayman Arts Festival’s student music education progamme and Saturday’s concert was the first opportunity for the orchestra to perform to an audience,” she said. “We are indebted to John Gray for their support and for allowing us to use their facilities – we needed the Performance Hall for such a large orchestra.”

McConvey said the Easter concert was well attended, which added to the experience for the student musicians. “It was great to see the enthusiasm of the students performing,” she said. “The Cayman Arts Festival music education programme is making a real impact on the lives of the students involved.”

The concert began with a drum ensemble, made up of the youngest group of students, five girls and six boys aged between 5 and 7 years old, who showcased their skills with the rudiments of drumming under the guidance of Daniel Augustine. The children played different types of rhythms including a soca beat and a marching band beat. The main orchestra followed with five pieces ranging from classical to soca, with some ragtime and jazz mixed in. First violinist Ava Miles led the orchestra, which included students playing flutes, clarinets, saxophones, cellos, baritone horns, violins, trumpets and trombones.

Performing with the student musicians were some of their teachers and tutors.

The orchestra practiced under student conductor Charlotte Gothar, but since she couldn’t conduct this particular performance due to prior commitment, Jonelle Ebanks, a music teacher at John Gray High School, stepped into take the orchestra through the pieces.   

“These concerts are good for the children,” said Ebanks. “We are grateful to the parents and their support of the children to come to the lessons, to learn the instruments and to perform at concerts such as this one.”

The Cayman Arts Festival is a not-for-profit organisation that facilitates the education programme that provides opportunities for children to learn musical instruments.  

For more information, visit caymanartsfestival.com , email enquires@caymanartsfestival.com  or call 922-5550.