Maestro Paul Cort …a musical man among men in his fieldIt is from my literature study days within the walls of Christ Church Secondary School that I must reach for a Shakespearean quote that is applicable to a young outstanding Guyanese musician. “If music be the food of love play on…give me excess of it that sufficing the appetite may sicken and so die… oh it came ore my ear like a sweet sound that breathe upon a bank of violets- Shakespeare…A Mid Summer Night’s Dream.

The name Paul Cort may not be as popular in Guyana as it should be for his outstanding exploits in a field that many can but dream but Guyanese have every reason to celebrate this youth who dares to live his dreams as an international Maestro.
There is no other youth in no other youth from Guyana whom I’ve interfaced with as an associate and dare say friend who has disproved the belief that ‘youth is wasted on the young.’ Bear with me for a brief bit as I attempt to summarize and dissect hopefully without taking away from outstanding youth of substance.
For those who don’t know him be inspired.
Paul was born in Guyana and began his formative musical training with the now late distinguished musician, Edith Pieters. We shared some classes as we were both students of the late grate woman of substance who was stickler for language. Paul was more into the music than I was and it showed. He was born to do music and he also was one to challenge anyone who dared to defile the queen’s English yet he was my down to earth friend who could easily share a good laugh on trivial matters. .

In 1996 he began teaching at The Bishops’ High School and then went on to Queen’s College until he accepted a scholarship to pursue studies in the USA in 2001.
In 2002, he placed second in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) auditions while in 2003 he was placed on the Dean’s List “Magna Cum Laude” and won the Genevieve Stalberg Award at Concordia College.
In 2004 he was awarded the Robert L. Mungar scholarship. He has studied with internationally acclaimed opera singer, Simon Estes and acquired the degree of Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Boston University in 2008.
Paul despite heights achieved is always a proud Guyanese who has performed in the Concordia College, Wartburg College and Boston University Choirs at Lincoln Centre, Orchestra Hall, Benaroya Hall, Kennedy Centre and Symphony Hall in the USA; and has toured Europe and South Africa with Simon Estes and the Wartburg Choir.
He has performed several recitals at the National Cultural Centre in Guyana and the Caribbean Region. Paul Cort was employed by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda in the public school system and was the Director of the National Choir of Antigua and Barbuda. He is currently employed at the University of the Southern Caribbean as a Music Instructor, Voice Teacher and Director of the Fine Arts Chorale. He has recently been made an Assistant Chief Examiner at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) level. By the way ladies he is a proud father and husband too who keeps he feet wet in things related to Guyana…. As he puts it, Guyana will always be my home. This Georgetown boy Paul is true to his loves his wife Malaika Sampson-Cort and children as well as Music. The latte he lives and breathes above the regular R n B, Hip Hop wanna B’s and in true baritone style he can belt out vocals at a second’s notice that makes him as outstanding as it gets.