THE Guyana Musical Arts Festival, formerly called ‘The Music Festival,’ will be held from tomorrow, April 29, to May 4 at the National Cultural Centre.

It has been organized by the Guyana Musical Arts Festival Inc., in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport; the Guyana Music Teachers’ Association, and the Woodside Choir.
This festival of music was first organized by the Guyana Music Teachers Association in 1952, and was held every two years until 1975. It attracted countrywide participation in British Guiana, and later in Guyana. Primary and secondary school students from Georgetown,  Berbice and Essequibo all enjoyed the drama and excitement of taking part in the Music Festival, singing solos or duets, or participating in school choirs, or playing an instrument such as the piano or violin. In those days, over one thousand entries were received for participation in the festivals.
This series of festivals was successfully resuscitated by the Woodside Choir in 1992 as part of their observances of their 40th Anniversary as a choir, and a small committee then organized several more festivals.
At the launch of the event, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, had said that the Government of Guyana was very happy to support this venture, since the value of music education and participation has been realized through research. He noted that festivals such as this one contribute to providing a rounded education for our youth, and through this means, we can also identify the musical talent residing in our country.
“As you know”, Dr Anthony pointed out, “Guyana has given birth to internationally renowned musicians such as Dr. Ray Luck the pianist, who took part in these past music festivals and continued with his musical education to become a renowned Concert Pianist. Luck has visited Guyana for the past two years to run music workshops designed to assist our young musicians with their training, and we are very grateful for the assistance he has provided.
“This country has also given birth to other musicians, such as Ms. Lynette Dolphin, Mr. R.C.G. Potter, Mr. Hugh Sam, Dr. Joycelyn Loncke and Mrs Ruby McGregor.
“The Woodside Choir, which resuscitated the music festivals for their 40th anniversary, went a step further in planning their 60th anniversary. In recognition of the need for more musical training for our young people and our teachers, and supported by the Ministry of Culture, a series of music workshops was organized, which a group of very talented Guyanese musicians based in the United States returned home to conduct.
“Local teachers were exposed to workshops exploring subjects such as Music for the Brain and Music Teaching techniques. There were workshops for children in the playing of Hand Bells, Recorders and Boom Whackers. Adults and children attended workshops in choral singing and playing instruments – steel pan, violin, brass and woodwind.
“These workshops attracted the attendance of hundreds of persons from several regions in Guyana, and they were very successful.
“The 2013 Musical Arts Festival will provide the opportunity for continuing exposure for our young and not-so-young musical Guyanese to demonstrate their talent. The theme of the festival will be as it has always been, “The object is not to gain a prize or to defeat a rival, but to pace one another on the road to excellence”. We strive to work together to advance the cause of music in Guyana.
“There will be 43 classes open to children – Vocal Solos for Boys and Girls, Verse Speaking, Dramatic Poetry, Choral Speaking, Primary School Choirs, Secondary School Choirs, Songs from the Shows, Folk Songs, Action Songs, Pianoforte Solos and Duets, Violin Solos and Duets, Recorder Solos and Duets, Steelpan Solos and School Steel Bands.
“Classes for adults include Soprano Contralto, Tenor and Baritone; or Bass Solos and Duets; Songs from the Shows for Ladies and Men; Ladies Choirs; Mixed Voice Choirs; Church Choirs; Pianoforte; Instrumental and Steel Pan Solos; Verse Speaking, Dramatic Poetry, Folk Songs, Steel Band, Ethnic Drumming and a Composition Class.
“The Ministry of Culture is pleased to be associated with this festival, and wishes to encourage the fullest participation by all talented persons. A series of workshops will be organized to assist persons with their preparation for this festival in several regions of the country.”
He encouraged persons to proceed as a nation to do everything possible to support this new phase of developing the musical talent in our country, as we follow the comment of a previous Adjudicator of Music Festivals in Guyana and copy the Woodside Theme, “We Sing for the Joy of Singing”.
The festival will allow participants of all ages to compete in over 40 categories of artistic endeavour. Participants in this year’s festival were required to register with the festival office at 221 Charlotte Street, between Oronoque and New Garden Streets, by April 5.
The first music festival was held in 1952, and had a continuous presence until 1975, when it was replaced by GUYFESTA.