By TAMARA DELANEY

Freeport News Reporter

tdelaney@nasguard.com

Young musicians with a heart for making melody premiered their harmonious talents at the Orchestral School of Music 2006 Summer Recital held at the Foster B. Pestaina Hall recently.

Over 50 students ranging in ages four to 18, representing various schools on Grand Bahama, performed more than 38 piano selections and on 12 wind instruments in the presence of families and instructors, after a year long tutelage under the school.

The programme also included the Hawksbill Church of God of Prophecy Band with their orchestral rendition of 'Kum Ba Yah.'

Highlights of the recital were memorable performances by Maxwell Dean with his piano rendition of 'Ice Palace,' Atavia Bowman on the keys playing 'Fanfare' and Shaunley Kemp reciting 'What a Friend we have in Jesus.'

Families and music teachers looked on as Liam Brown, Evante Gibson and Marcus Guthro – the saxophone and trumpet trio – blew their notes to a pleased audience.

The festive night continued when Freeport Anglican High students Jonathan Ward and Janae Johnson, played like piano veterans taking the stage by storm as they performed technical but masterful pieces.

Reynold Robinson, chairperson of the Orchestral School of Music, said that after a four year hiatus, the orchestral school of music summer recital returned because of a great need.

"There was a demand from the parents who had their kids trained and they wanted to see their children perform," he said. "This recital showed what could be accomplished by our young people. It is meant to absorb the level of performance by each kid and understand the technical capabilities, and absorb what it takes to do what they are doing."

Mr. Robinson explained that the summer recital will become an annual event with plans to expand to a recital in the winter as well.

"We want to introduce a winter recital with top solo artists and try to involve the audience more because it would be around the Christmas season and we want them to capture that musical spirit."

Being a musician instructor with more than 25 years of teaching under his belt, Mr. Robinson commended the young artists at the recital, noting that it is a good way for them to pursue other music endeavours.

"Some kids who performed at the recital are being trained as piano and organ players for the St. Paul's Methodist Church," he said. "Some have been with the school all their lives and won countless national awards, so it may help with a more promising future."

Recognized for his achievements as a two time winner of the Governor General's Award for cultural excellence and three time winner of the National Art's Festival's Most Outstanding Teacher Award, Mr. Robinson said that the accomplishments of his students should be no different than others.

"We believe that the children of The Bahamas are no different than the children elsewhere. Our standard of education should be on par with world standards," he said. Fostering the young performers into musical training, he agreed that the recital has a a positive impact upon the Grand Bahama community, even upon the national mind set.

"You want them to have that feeling of self worth and know exactly what their confidence level is because it takes a lot for them to get up there and play their instruments," he said.

Being the most dominant force in piano and wind instrumental music in the past 11 years, the Orchestral School of Music will continue its regiment with Summer Music Camp which begins Monday, June 26 and ends Friday, July 20.

Classes are scheduled from Monday through Friday at 9 a.m. to 12 noon or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

TOOTING MY OWN HORN – Steven Cefort, a seventh grader at Freeport High, blows away the crowd with his tuba rendition of Sawmill Creek. Mr. Cefort was a performer at the Orchestral School of Music 2006 Summer Recital held this past weekend.

TRUMPETING TRIO – Saxophone and trumpet players showed off their technical and driven pieces at the 2006 Summer Recital hosted by the Orchestral School of Music. Pictured from left to right; Liam Brown, 3rd grader from Sunland Primary; Evante Gibson, 7th grader from Lucayan International and Marcus Guthro, 4th grader from Lucayan International.