Paula Lindo – Our histories, stories, present, future.

Having a home of their own is an important goal for many people and organizations. It is for this reason that the BP Marionettes Chorale will be partnering with churches in Port of Spain, La Romaine and Chaguanas for their July 2016 concert season, which runs from July 8 to 16.

Musical Director Gretta Taylor said this gives the Chorale the opportunity “to help our hosts to raise much needed funds to support their renovation and building programs. Part proceeds of the concerts will also go towards the construction of a home for the Chorale itself, as it has never had one of its own. This is a continuation of fundraising which has been taking place over the last few years.”

The group will be singing in support of restoration and building work at the churches of All Saints and Holy Rosary in Port of Spain as well as the parish of La Romaine and the unfinished church of the Uganda Martyrs in Longdenville, through the Church of St Philip and St James in Chaguanas.
Taylor said this is not the first time the Chorale has reached out to share the joy of music with communities across T&T. Previously, the group has performed in Arima, Curepe, Chaguanas, Carapachaima, Rio Claro, San Fernando and Mayaro, in Trinidad, and in Scarborough and Signal Hill in Tobago, to name a few.
BPTT CEO Norman Christie commended the Chorale for its efforts. “School is out and while many of us are thinking of holidays, the Marionettes have been hard at work to deliver their mid-year concert. Over the past 50 plus years the Marionettes have been building a legacy by developing top-class musicians while producing performances that have thrilled and entertained. What stands out is the fact that although the faces may have changed over the years, the chorale has been able to consistently bring productions that are of top quality and unmistakably ‘Marionettes’.”
The theme of this year’s concert is Hearts Beat Together, which Taylor said comes from a song by Spanish composer Emilio Sole-Sempere. “It’s a song about the way music can bring us together across the divisions and differences that separate us. As it blends together Caribbean and Latin American rhythms, the song champions peace, harmony and unity over conflict and confrontation. The relevance to our social situation, let alone situations in the wider world, should be obvious.”
The concert will feature a mixture of songs from different genres including classical, spirituals, gospel, calypso, pop, folk, and more, as well as offerings in different languages. Audiences can look forward to performances from popular soloists Jacqueline Johnson, Hermina Charles, Tamika Joseph and Garfield Washington, among others.
For tickets for the performance at the All Saints Anglican Church, Port of Spain on Friday July 8, call 627-7004. Sunday July 10 will see the choir at the La Romaine RC Church, San Fernando; for tickets, call 657 3295.
On Friday July 15, the Chorales will be at the St. Philip and St. James RC Church, Chaguanas; for tickets, call 665 4245. The choir comes back to Port of Spain on Sunday July 17 at the Holy Rosary RC Church; for tickets, call 623 4020.
Friday shows begin at 7:30 om and Sunday shows begin at 5 pm. All tickets cost $150. For more information, call 790 1751 or email orders@marionetteschorale.com, or find the group at http://www.marionetteschorale.com, Facebook – MarionettesChorale, Twitter – @marionettes and Instagram – marionettes_tt.

Originally published in the T&T Guardian on July 3, 2016