The Antigua Team: Meet Venelle Powell
Venelle hopes the young musicians she meets in Antigua will leave feeling more confident in their own creativity. Preparing to represent Saint Kitts and Nevis at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), the Nevisian performer and educator is looking forward to musical experiences and friendships that could continue to inspire her students long after the visit.
Venelle With her team in 2023
Venelle Powell wants young musicians to find their voices
In 2023, Venelle travelled to Antigua as a chaperone for students attending the Go Compose workshop. The visit brought her into contact with The Commonwealth Resounds team and gave her an opportunity to contribute musically within a wider Commonwealth setting. She brings to this return visit the experience of both a performer and an educator: a singer-songwriter and vocal coach, she is also a founder and teacher at the Samuel O. Powell School of Music in Nevis.
I am proud to represent Saint Kitts and Nevis through my passion for music. Music has been an important part of my life, not only as a means of creative expression but also as a way of connecting with people.
As an educator, I understand that music can help young people build confidence, discover their abilities, and find their voices.
As an educator, I understand that music can help young people build confidence, discover their abilities, and find their voices.
The exchanges Venelle looks forward to grow through everyday encounters as well as rehearsals. TCR’s 2024 Go Compose account records her introducing visitors to soursop, sugar apple and sugar cane between workshop sessions. It is a small illustration of the cultural sharing that accompanies the music. Returning to Antigua, she is keen to encounter different perspectives and discover what musicians can create together. For Venelle, collaboration offers a way to appreciate the experiences people share while celebrating what makes each participant distinct.
Although our musical experiences and traditions may differ, music creates opportunities for us to find common ground, appreciate one another, and celebrate both our uniqueness and our shared humanity. It reminds us that our cultural differences do not divide us; instead, they can bring us together to create something beautiful.
The encouragement Venelle hopes to offer has a practical purpose. She wants young people to discover abilities they may not yet recognise and feel ready to share their musical ideas. Her message to Commonwealth leaders is that investing in music education supports personal development and helps preserve cultural identities. Back in Nevis, she hopes to share new ideas and experiences with her students at the Samuel O. Powell School of Music. A successful visit would leave her with meaningful connections and young people with the confidence to keep creating.
I hope to offer encouragement, inspire younger musicians, and build genuine connections with the people I meet. As an educator, I understand that music can help young people build confidence, discover their abilities, and find their voices. I hope those I work with leave the experience feeling encouraged to explore their creativity, believe in their potential, and recognize what they can achieve through music.
