Music Matters

Sat 25 November 2006

Short Notes from the Music School

Babonneau Centre to Reopen

The School of Music’s Babonneau Centre, based at the Babonneau Secondary School, has had a checkered history. It got off to an excellent start back in 2000 under the coordination of Miss Anne-Marie Biroo, the secondary school’s music teacher, but then lapsed during her studies at UWI in Trinidad, where she successfully acquired a degree in music, first class division. The Music School is glad to announce that once again under Mrs Biroo’s capable leadership, the Babonneau Centre is back on track and will reopen its doors in January 2007. The Centre will initially offer classes in guitar, drums, voice and keyboard; other subjects are expected to follow in due course. Prospective Babonneau Centre students should contact the St Lucia School of Music at Tapion: 452 2473.

Vieux Fort Centre Marks 15 years.

September this year marked the fifteenth birthday of the School’s oldest centre outside Castries. Under the coordination of Mrs Priscilla Lucien – who like Mrs Biroo, also left to acquire a music degree - the Vieux Fort Centre now has a termly average of around 100 students studying voice, piano, guitar, drumming, Music In Action, Adventure in Music, Musicianship and CXC Music. Much like the Castries Centre, it started with only 40 students and five part-time teachers. In those days there were no instruments: students carried their keyboards and guitars to class. The Centre now has much better resources and many very supportive friends and encouraging parents. The Centre also has a very successful community choir called ‘Heart & Soul’, a versatile group of young adults singing a wide-ranging repertoire. ‘Heart & Soul’ has made several appearances for St Lucia Jazz. Looking back, Centre Coordinator Mrs Lucien notes: “We have made a difference. Students from the Centre have gone to university to further their studies in music. Others have joined bands and now perform on cruise ships. Some students have used the knowledge gained to improve the music in their church, while some just enjoy playing for their family and friends”. The Centre’s main goal, she says, has always been to “make music learning accessible to everyone. We need a musically literate society and we need our people to have a greater appreciation for all kinds of music”. Congratulations to the Centre, its staff and students, for all the hard work they have done over the last decade and a half to achieve this goal!

Christmas Music for the Crisis Centre

In the spirit of Christmas, the St Lucia School of Music will again be holding a Christmas Charity Concert in aid of a worthy cause. Last year the School raised $1,000 for the Boy’s Training Centre; this year the funds raised will also serve to help children in need, this time at the Crisis Centre, which is now under the direction of Mrs Sandra Murray. Mrs. Murray has for many years been a dedicated clarinet student at the Music School. The concert will commence at 7.30pm on Sat 9th December at the Anglican Church. This venue will enable the school’s organ students to take part for the first time. Also featuring will be a number of the School’s wind and string ensembles and all three of the Castries Centre’s choirs. Admission will be $20.00 for adults and $10 for children and SLSM students.

:: MORE ::