The ABYSO celebrated Christmas with a concert of festive and classical music at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. The concert was held in the presence of H.E. Sir Rodney Williams, Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda and Patron of the ABYSO. Christmas classics to include Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite and Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus were performed with great enthusiasm under the baton of guest conductor David Curtis. The orchestra also played music by Karl Jenkins and Adam Adolphe. The choir for the evening sung with energy and beauty and added to the feeling of Christmas.
The evening included guest appearances by renowned concert violinist Irmina Trynkos who thrilled the audience with her masterful performance of Thais: Meditation from Massenet. Greek mandolinist Vivi Gheka performed a medley of Greensleeves with Away In Manager arranged by Antiguan composer Dr George Roberts. As part of the ABYSO’s commitment to include at least one piece written or arranged by a local young composer in each ABYSO concert, the concert included the piece Ashore by 15-year-old Khadijah Simon of the Antigua Girls’ High School. Khadijah is one of two Antiguan finalists in the Commonwealth International Composition Prize. The other finalist is Brianna Georges.
The ABYSO extends thanks to soloists Charmaine Quinland-Donovan, Barbara Matthew, Arlen Seton and Nevianna McDonald for their beautiful singing. Special thanks to the director of the National Choir of Antigua and Barbuda, Adrianne Henry, for training the choir. The Very Reverend Ernest Flemming, Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, was the officiating minister.
This Christmas concert will form part of the ABYSO’s annual calendar of events.
