The Bahamas National Youth Choir (BNYC) will honour a renowned Bahamian musician as the organization gears up to introduce the Cleophas R.E. Adderley Lifetime Achievement Award during its 28th Annual Concert Season from March 21st to March 24th 2018 at the Dundas Centre for The Performing Arts.
The concert season will be held under the distinguished patronage of Her Excellency Dame Marguerite Pindling, GCMG, Governor General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
“The Lifetime Achievement Award” is being renamed in memory of BNYC’s Founder, the late Mr. Cleophas Adderley,” said Choir Director Dexter Fernander.
Fernander revealed that Marcia Miles will be the first recipient of this rebranded award. He lauded Miles for her exemplary talents and years of dedication to the BNYC.
“For almost 23 years Mrs. Marcia Miles has accompanied the BNYC. She quietly sat at the piano and gave polished performances that went from engaging to exhilarating...swirling arpeggios and delicate harmony year after year with a STRICT Master! This is an ideal time and fitting honour for her to be the first recipient of the Cleophas R.E. Adderley Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Fernander.
Miles is hailed as a gifted musician who credits her relationship with the late Mr. Adderley as being ‘the most significant, impression-marking and rewarding aspect of her musical journey’.
In addition to the renaming of the Lifetime Achievement Award in memory of the choir’s founder, the BNYC will also perform a number of traditional musical pieces arranged by the cultural icon during this year’s concert season.
“I think of the BNYC as a house for which Mr. Adderley has laid the foundation; it’s now time to put some details onto the house, so as we move forward, we’re developing ourselves,” said Fernander, pointing out how both the journey of the BNYC and the legacy of Mr. Adderley continue.
“This upcoming concert is our major fundraiser and this is the 28th consecutive year of BNYC’s annual concert season, but this is also our 35th year of existence; we’re continuing the work of The Bahamas National Youth Choir,” he states.“The choir lost a major sponsor this year and so it is hoped that the public would support our efforts in any way possible.”
“The entity exposes our youth to different styles of music, providing the basics of music, the basics of commitment in becoming a citizen and the understanding of our culture. The foundation remains and we will continue to build.”
Fernander gave his assurance that concert goers can look forward to a diverse musical experience that will showcase Bahamian culture as well as the music of a Grammy-award-winning Broadway musical.
“The audience can expect to have a flavour of The Bahamas in respect to the different genres of music such as rake n’ scrape, the jump and dance rhythm and the Junkanoo rhythm. So the music is a diverse representation of the different styles of Bahamian music. Additionally, the choir has transitioned to a show choir and as such will also showcase traditional dance movements inclusive of ‘heel and toe’, the quadrille dance and choir’s favorite sculling-box-step,” Fernander said.
“This year we will introduce what we call traditional classics, negro spirituals and then we will conclude with 21st century modern music. We will also perform Broadway pieces from the Lion King and we hope that everyone will enjoy it.”
The diverse programme of music will include works by M. Warren, Franz Joseph Haydn, Bob Chilcott and Tom Fettke.
The guest artist for this year’s concert season is former BNYC member, jazz sensation & recording artist Mrs. Naomi Taylor-Crawford. She is revered as an ‘extraordinary performer with a luxuriant, silky and sophisticated tonality to her voice.’ Naomi will be the first jazz performer to appear as a guest artist for the BNYC’s concert season.
Concert goers can also expect a very pleasant surprise as a popular artist is promised to make a special appearance to perform with the choir on stage. Organizers are keeping that guest artist’s name a ‘top secret’.
Shows will be held 8:00 p.m. nightly with a gala on the opening night. Gala night is set for March 21st inclusive of complimentary wine and hors d'oeuvres. Matinee performances are also scheduled for March 22nd and March 23rd 2018.
The BNYC was established in 1983 under the direction of its founder the late Cleophas R.E. Adderley, OBE, as a part of the celebrations marking the tenth anniversary of Bahamian independence. Over the years the choir has toured and given performances in twenty-eight countries on four continents including The United States, Canada, Mexico, England, France, Germany, Trinidad, Belize, Mexico, China, South Africa, and Swaziland. They have also sung in 25 languages including German, French, Spanish, Mandarin, Hungarian, Italian and five African languages.
The singers have graced the stages of internationally acclaimed venues including the Concert Hall of The John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts (Washington, D.C.), The Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall (New York City), The Grand Hall of The Moscow Conservatory (Russia), Beijing Symphony Hall and The Poly Theatre (China), Oxford University Playhouse and The Barbican (England), and have had the privilege of rendering anthems and singing the responses during mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City.
There are currently 28 choristers in the BNYC who are all passionately preparing to put on an amazing show.
Mr. Cleophas Adderley at the Piano with Mrs. Marcia Miles (2018 Life Time Achievement Award Honouree)
Guest Artist – Naomi Taylor-Crawford
