The ABYSO-ROSL partnership continues to provide opportunities for music mentorship and performance at the highest levels of artistic excellence. Following nearly two years of online teaching, the ABYSO held a week of activities with musicians from the UK culminating with a grand concert.
The musicians were conductor Lloyd Coleman, violinists William Newell and Braimah Kanneh-Mason, flautist Emma Halnan, clarinettist Jordan Black and French horn player Jonathan Harris. The guests also included members of the ABYSO Board of Directors and local tutors. ROSL is supporting seven award-winning musicians to provide online tutoring to the ABYSO throughout the year.
The week included a welcome reception hosted by Resident British Commissioner Lindsy Thompson, a musical evening hosted by ABYSO Director Gaye Hechme, a fundraising dinner at the Inn at English Harbour and a performance at the Curtain Bluff Hotel. The week ended with a grand concert finale at the SJPC House of Restoration under the baton of guest conductor, Lloyd Coleman.
The concert was the ABYSO’s first in-person concert in 2 years. The programme included music from Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Morricone and Bernstein as well as the debut of a special arrangement of Antiguan and Barbudan patriotic songs composed by local musician Joelle Michael and arranged by Ka Youn Yoo. The ABYSO was honoured to have its Patron Sir Rodney Williams in attendance and one of its directors, Dr Jillia Bird, hosted the evening.
The ROSL-ABYSO workshops and concerts were made possible with the generous support of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, the Inn at English Harbour, Island Living, The Boltini Trust, Minsesoft and the Pettmans.
The concert can be viewed on the following link.