The Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival Association H.B.M. (TTMFA) was incorporated by an Act of Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (No. 15 of 1972) and is empowered “to promote and hold music festivals and to do all other such things as are incidental to the holding of such festivals; and to do all other things necessary for the encouragement of the appreciation of music.” This year marks the 32nd Music Festival during the period 18th February to 17th March 2018.
Naparima Girls’ High School (NGHS) has been involved with music festival since the 1970s. Over the years, NGHS has competed in at least 15 categories each festival with much success. This year, 2018 we competed in 13 categories and displayed unrivalled talent copping the championship in the following categories:
- Junior Folk Song Solo – 1st place Sydney Mohan (L6) performing Stuttering Pastor arranged by Mrs. Bernadette Roberts.
- Secondary School Choirs – Mixed Voices (19 years & under) – Naparima Mixed Choir 1st place; competed with Signal Hill, Tobago.
- Junior Calypso Chorale: NGHS, dubbed Naparima Chorale performing Dingolay arranged and directed by Mrs. Roberts – 1st place – We competed against Bishops Anstey High School POS and Signal Hill Tobago.
- Piano Solo (16 to 19 years) performing Golliwog’s Cakewalk by Debussy: 1st place Alayna Ragbar, Form 5.
Sydney Mohan has become a staple participant at the biennial music festivals. With such talent as a soprano (high voice), she has not only won several classes but was awarded the Music Festival Myers Shield winner 2018, for ages 19 and under. Congratulations to Sydney!
For the first time, Naparima Girls’ High School in the Secondary School Choir – Mixed Choir Category, performing, Gonna Rise Up Singing by Don Besig which involved collaborative efforts with Naparima College. Mrs. Natalie Persad-Umraw (music teacher of Naparima College) conducted the 40 member choir (16 boys and 24 girls) accompanied by Mr. Sean Sadaphal. Special thanks to Mrs. Reanna Edwards-Paul for her critical assistance. We managed to place 1st in this category – what a successful team effort! Congratulations to the Naparima Mixed Choir!
Quite impressive was the performance of Dingolay in the Junior Calypso Chorale category. Arranged and directed by the dedicated, talented and passionate Mrs. Bernadette Roberts (now retired) our 40 member girls’ choir managed to gain 1st place against consistent championship winners Bishops Anstey High School (POS) & Signal Hill Tobago. The judges made special mention that our spirited performance provided the edge to our competitors. The performance video was well circulated in the community and we were given coverage in the Newsday and the Trinidad Guardian newspaper. Congratulations to the Naparima Chorale!
And last, but not least – our piano solo student Alayna Ragbar placed 1st in the piano solo category performing Golliwog’s Cakewalk by Debussy. Congratulations to Alayna!
Mention is to be made of the following students as they participated in other categories such as girls’ vocal solos and duets, recorder solos and string solos:
- Amanda Bobb (recorder)
- Haley Daniel (recorder)
- Nishelle Rennie (recorder)
- Jasmin Weis (recorder)
- Hailey Seegobin (recorder)
- Lara Adams (steelpan)
- Alexa Lee (violin)
- Catalina Boodoosingh (violin)
- Chelsea Pooran-Roodal (violin)
- Destiny Quashie (voice)
- Shernaya Alexis (voice)
- Athalia Gildharry (voice)
- Reuel Mc Intosh (voice)
- Carissa Benjamin (voice)
- Analey Bramble (voice)
- Cassidy Lugo (voice)
- Vandana Maharaj (voice)
- Serese Philandez (voice)
- Aliyah Ramatally (voice) – they all performed well during the festival – congrats!
Championship results summary:
1. Junior Folk Song Solo – 1st place Sydney Mohan (L6) performing Stuttering Pastor arranged by Mrs. Bernadette Roberts (Queen’s Hall).
2. Secondary School Choirs – Mixed Voices (19 years & under) – Naparima Mixed Choir 1st place! – NGHS & Naparima College (Naparima Bowl)
3. Piano Solo (16 to 19 years) performing Golliwog’s Cakewalk by Debussy: 1st place Alayna Ragbar, Form 5. (Naparima Bowl)
4. Junior Calypso Chorale: NGHS, dubbed Naparima Chorale performing Dingolay arranged and directed by Mrs. Roberts – 1 st place
Semi-finals results summary
5. Recorder Solo – (12 years and under) performing Study #17 by Sally Adams (afternoon)
a. Amanda Bobb (1st place)
b. Haley Daniel (2nd place)
c. Nishelle Rennie (3rd place)
6. Girl’s Vocal Solo (11 to 12 years) performing Joy by Schubert Destiny Quashie (1st place out of
16 competitors)
7. Ladies Vocal Duet – Greeting by Mendelssohn – Sydney Mohan & Melanie Baboolal
8. Recorder Solo (13 to 15 years) performing Allegro by Mozart – 1st place, Jasmin Weis
9. Folk Solo 19 years and under Own Choice: Sydney Mohan – 1st place
10. String Solos (15 years and under) performing Rubber Dolly Rag by J.B. Lampe arr. Mark O’Connor: Alexa Lee, 1st place.
Sydney Mohan performing one of her pieces for the festival. The second picture is the Myers Shield winner 2018 award, which means she attained the highest score in 10 classes of competition. Sydney participated in 14 categories.
Naparima Mixed Choir performing Gonna Rise Up Singing by Don Besig for the SecondarySchool Mixed Choir category above and collecting the championship trophy below. Conducted by Ms. Natalie Persad Umraw and accompanied by Mr. Sean Sadaphal.
Naparima Chorale performing Dingolay and collecting the championship trophy above. Dingolay was arranged & directed by Mrs. Bernadette Roberts.
Alayna Ragbar performing Golliwog’s Cakewalk by Debussy for the championships and collecting the championship trophy
Serese Philandez performing during the preliminaries, Mother Tell Me Do – collected by J.B. Wekerlin, accompanied by Mrs. Bernadette Roberts.
Vandana Maharaj performing during the preliminaries, Mother Tell Me Do – collected by J.B.
Wekerlin, accompanied by Mrs. Bernadette Roberts.
Emma Rahman performing during the preliminaries, Help Me To Pray by F. Paolo Tosti accompanied by Mrs. Bernadette Roberts.
Carissa Benjamin performing during the preliminaries, Orpheus With His Lute by Arthur Sullivan accompanied by Mrs. Bernadette Roberts.
Aliyah Ramatally performing during the preliminaries, How Beautiful Are The Feet by G. F. Handel, accompanied by Mrs. Bernadette Roberts.
Jasmin Weis performing Allegro from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart in the championships. She placed first in the preliminary round. She was accompanied by Mr. Sean Sadaphal.
NGHS Junior Choir performing, Where Do The Stars Go?, by Sherri Porterfield. Conducted by Mr. Sean Sadaphal and accompanied by Mrs. Bernadette Roberts.
Reuel Mc Intosh performing during the preliminaries, Help Me To Pray by F. Paolo Tosti accompanied by Mrs. Bernadette Roberts.
NGHS Quartet performing Bring A Torch arranged by Ed Lojeski. From the Left: Melanie Baboolal, Syndey Mohan, Emma Rahman and Jessie Rampersad.
Ms. Reanna Edwards-Paul (Music teacher at NGHS) performing You Are My Angel with her brother, Stefan and sister, Alicia in the Family Ensemble category. They were awarded the Cynthia Alfred Cup.
Mrs. Naomi Woodsley (English teacher at NGHS) performing If I Loved You from the musical Carousel. She placed 3rd in the Musical Theatre category.
