By VERDEL BISHOP Thursday, February 14 2008

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SING A GLORIOUS SONG: Caribbean Nazarene College (CNC) as they performed "Breakthrough", for which they won plaudits from Adjudicator Prof. Melvin Hur...

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Young musicians had another opportunity to showcase their skills yesterday, as another session of the 28th Music Festival continued at Queen’s Hall, with competition in Class 35A — recorder solo (preliminary round). “Best Foot Forward”, by M Jacques, was the test piece for participants in this category.

Adjudicator, Professor Melvin J Hurst, described this test piece as perfect, as he found the music was quite suitable for the descant recorder. He found there was still a lot of room for improvement among many of the young musicians. However, he was quite impressed with what he heard.

Adjudictor Melvin Hurst stressed the importance of introducing the recorder in schools as part of the syllabus.

He emphasised the academical benefits to be obtained, as well as the musical growth that young musicians can get out of the instrument.

At the end of the preliminary round, eight recorder soloists were selected to move forward to the semi-final round.

The steel pan segment — Class 43a — of the festival added quite a musical change to the afternoon’s atmosphere.

Of the 19 entrants who performed the test piece of their own choice 11 girls challenged eight boys. The young pannists, many of whom chose to play a variety of pieces, including the late Kitchener’s “Pan in A Minor” displayed their talents in folk and various classical pieces. However, most opted for short, sweet pieces.

Not even an earthquake that shook the Queen’s Hall at 4 pm, diverted the audience’s attention from the classical pieces rendered on the steel pan.

Of the 19 who performed, many showed their dynamic skills in the various pieces played on national instrument.

Their performance was so sweet, that the Adjudicator Hurst only had one word to describe their performances — “Remarkable.”

“I had the music in front of me, and I saw the details these young people had to work with. I am quite impressed. This is first class music. Music to enjoy for a lifetime,” said the adjudicator.

Professor Hurst said he was quite impressed with the entire music festival thus far.

The musical action continues today at Queen’s Hall.