– An evening of classical, religious and popular music
The Georgetown Chamber Chorus will be presenting its inaugural concert, “Come Celebrate” tomorrow at 17:00hrs at Saint George’s Cathedral.

The Chorus performs diverse works that draw on the rich musical heritages from around the world for the enjoyment of the Georgetown and wider Guyanese community. Built on a solid Western classical tradition, the group explores music from over the centuries: madrigals to jazz, oratorios to gospel, and leider to calypsos. Composers range from Mozart and Haydn to Stevie Wonder and even Shakira.

With a commitment to development, the Chorus will raise awareness and funds for organisations that address the needs of the vulnerable and poor citizens of the city.

The Georgetown Chamber Chorus was founded in April of this year by its current Artistic Director and Conductor Musheer Kamau, in response to declining interest in classical music locally. His main collaborator and principal accompanist, Marcello Basani, works closely with young Guyanese musicians, Justin and Joel Thompson, to produce thrilling renditions of a diverse musical repertoire.

Guyana has a rich history of good music, which is founded on solid training and musicianship and there is a need for this kind of music to be nurtured again. The group was started with auditioned singers. Mr. Kamau explains that the choir is a teaching choir where members learn techniques, vocal training, musical theory, history and appreciation. The Chorus successfully held a three day public music reading workshop in September.

Mr. Kamau, a development economist by profession and on assignment here with the IDB, believes that adding the cultural dimension to economic development aids the general development progress, citing neighbouring Venezuela’s National Youth Orchestras which have blossomed and collectively are now held as an international model. He feels that no community should be deprived of the beauty and transformational quality of good music.

The choir includes persons from various socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. The objective of the inaugural concert is to broaden the interest in classical and choral music. Further, it is hoped that initiatives like this should be able to emerge across Guyana with the interest sparked in Georgetown.
The concert would demonstrate how this choral type of music transforms the way one thinks about music in general – the group will be doing calypso, jazz, traditional classical – some religious, some not and one particularly funny (and English)  piece. Kamau expects patrons to come up afterward with questions on joining the choir or how to start another group like this in other parts of the country.

Concert tickets are priced at a very affordable $300 and are available from Herdmanston Lodge – Peter Rose Street, Hot & Spicy – Albert Street,
D ‘n A Marketing – East Street, and all choir members.