Sharing Musical Skills: Antigua and Barbuda!

2024

Returning to Antigua for our third visit, our dedicated team of composers, musicians, educators, joined with the prodigious talents of the young musicians of Antigua & Barbuda, St Kitts & Nevis and Montserrat to develop young composers and shine a light on the musical tapestry of the islands.

Through days of workshops, rehearsals, and awe-inspiring concerts, we aim to learn about the potential of the island’s young musicians, nurture their compositional abilities, and together we will celebrate, the richness of Antiguan and Barbudan cultures.

The team land in Antigua Airport

The TCR team

Gabriel

Composer / Jazz Trumpet

Ka Youn

Composition

Reuben

Composition

Jamie

Tuba

Rosemary Ball

Saxophone

Lily Hesper-Dugdale

Clarinet

Peter

Viola

Alison

Composition

Ellen Wilkinson

Oboe

Lucy Rowan

Flute

Find out what is going on...

Day 1

The team began their adventure, meeting for the first time, our amazing group of students and graduates from conservatoires and top universities gathered at Gatwick airport. After receiving a warm welcome to Antigua, they shook off their travel fatigue with a refreshing swim in the Caribbean Sea. The day ended perfectly with a pizza dinner, new friendships have been built and a positive tone set for the journey ahead. Find out more about today and our plans for the adventure by clicking here…

Day 2

The team reunited with the Antigua and Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra (ABYSO) for their final summer concert, “A Million Dreams,” at the American University of Antigua. The concert, a celebration of musical theatre and youth talent, featured the orchestra and the Inspire Choir, showcasing songs from musicals and well known numbers.

Day 3

Day 3 marked the start of our groundbreaking composition workshops, a first for the Caribbean, bringing together 40 students from Antigua & Barbuda, St Kitts & Nevis, and Montserrat. The students began their courses on film composition, fusion music, jazz composition, and composition for wind and brass.

Day 4

The team was featured on the national breakfast TV programme, Good Morning Antigua. Key tutors Ellen and Ka Youn, along with Alison Cox, were interviewed about the project, while the wind duo, Rosemary and Lily, performed a specially written fanfare. Day 4 focused on the exploration of harmony. The young composers delved into dissonance and consonance, learning about clashing and non-clashing chords, and experimented with chord separations to understand how different arrangements affect musical texture.

Day 5

Jamie led large-scale group compositions, using leitmotifs developed during initial sessions. After the workshops, the team toured the island, visiting English Harbour and Nelson’s Dockyard, and learning about Antigua’s law ensuring public beach access. They then climbed to Shirley Heights for stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean.

The day concluded with a visit to the Hell’s Gate Steel Pan Orchestra, where the Minister for Culture, Kahn Cordice, welcomed the group. They experienced playing the steel pan and were amazed to learn the instrument’s versatility, including an impressive arrangement of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue.

Day 6

The team were interviewed on Observer Radio, sharing insights about the composition project before they were honoured by a visit from the Minister for Culture, Kahn Cordice, who toured the course and delivered an inspiring masterclass on the steel pan, featuring an impressive arrangement of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue.

Later, His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams, Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda, visited to hear the students’ work. He was impressed by their compositions and reiterated his belief in music’s power to unite people and cultures.

Day 7

Distinguished guests, including Their excellencies, John Hamilton MBE, Charley Williams MBE, and Her Excellency Karen-Mae Hill OBE visited. They engaged with students and tutors, learning about the course. Excitement was high as compositions came together, and students heard their works for the first time. The tutors were introduced to local fruits like soursop, sugar apple, and sugar cane, each offering unique and surprising flavours.

Day 8

The week culminated in a packed concert at Lucky Eddie’s in English Harbour, attended by His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams, High Commissioners Karen-Mae Hill and John Hamilton MBE, along with distinguished guests and proud parents. Find out how the week of music instilled confidence in everyone, leaving them inspired and ready to achieve great things.

Kindly supported by

The Government of Antigua & Barbuda

The Government of Montserrat

The Government of Saint Kitts & Nevis

Commonwealth Youth Programme

Royal College of Music

Royal Academy of Music

ABRSM

PlayOn

Cambridge University

Jolly Beach Resort

Sir Vivien Richards Stadium

Lucy Eddi's Bar & Restaurant

The Holywood Trust

Specialised Travel Ltd

John Sweeny Foundation

Jim & Iris Gibbons

Bernie Irish

Joel Silcott

Steve & Steph

Jerleen John

Anonymous donors

Photos

Ellen is reunited with her oboe students. She has taught them online since 2019 but only met in person twice before!
Ka Youn and Reuben lead discussions around our instrumentalists and how we can use them through the week to ensure that everyone has access to a top world class musician.
Alison cox OBE introduces the concert, the first of its kind in the Caribbean.
The Film group prepare a graphic score in groups as an icebreaker activity.
The jazz workshop allowed everyone to hear the creativity of the day. Here the Jazz team share their ideas.
The wind ensemble share their creative works with Lily performing the newly composed music
Our students started to play their pieces and record them for the film music. Here one of our double basses started to put together some tunes.
The Sir Vivien Richards Stadium looking incredible under the Antiguan sunshine.
Musicians preparing to demonstrate
The group gather for the final time as the course drew to a close. Alison Cox MBE congratulated everyone on their achievements and outlined the plans for the next day's concert.
Rosemary and Lily perform a new work specially composed by Ka Koun for ABS radio and TV
The Jazz team preparing for the concert on stage at Lucky Eddie's
Students working on their films. This group have the theme of the oceans and are working on a film from the Commonwealth Blue Charter
Reuben shows off his Korean drum
Ellen and Reuben put the finishing touches onto the resources for their course
Lucy and Lily recorded some of Composer Ka Youn's works at Jolly Beach just after a quick evening swim in the sea!
Calynia, Ellen and Ka Youn on ABS Radio
The class of 2024! The commonwealth resounds team are all together for the closing of the course
Our fusion course mixes words and music.
Students performing a sample of their music alongside their films for everyone to hear what has been achieved.
The Jazz musicians in action. Developing a deep sense of rhythm to start the course
The Commonwealth Resounds team outside the ABS TV Studios
The St Kitts & Nevis team
Gabriel leads a jazz workshop looking at how rhythm can be used and cross rhythms created!
Students are supported and work together with our musicians to create new music they are proud of.
Our evening sunsets are pretty stunning
The fusion team have the opportunity to develop their skills in composition.
Ka Youn introduces the music and film course
The film course present one of their works to the whole group
The fusion course presenting their music
Micah introduces his composition which was performed by professional musicians at Lucky Eddi's in English Harbour, Antigua.
The film group discuss how their music fits with their movie clips.
Sir Vivien Richards Cricket ground where the course is taking place
English Harbour on the tour of Antigua
Alison, Herman & Calynia interviewed on ABS Radio
An Antiguan student trying out new compositions
The Montserrat musicians
The Film group exploring Ka Youn's latest creation
Jamie leads the instrumental composition group.
The team land in Antigua Airport
The team land in Antigua Airport
Lily & Rosemary performing on Antigua Barbuda today
The team from Montserrat and St Kitts & Nevis
The team enjoying the view from Shirley Heights over English harbour
Ka Youn and Ellen preparing for their TV and Radio interviews
The team join together to perform with ABYSO
The TCR team on their tour of Antigua
Calynia and Alison on Antigua Barbuda today
Ka Youn with one of her students from the first Composition concert in the Caribbean
Peter, Ellen, Lily and Rosemary prepare for the Antigua and Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra (ABYSO) Concert at the American University of Antigua
Reuben Bance (TCR), Calynia Edwards and Herman Francis interviewed on Observer Radio
The team get together for an early breakfast meeting to plan and prepare their week's activities.
A Caribbean Sunset at Jolly Beach
Lily and Rosemary our clarinet and saxophonist outside before the ABYSO concert
The TCR musicians outside the TV studios
A film taster group explore music within film
Venelle shared an amazing fruit called a Soursop with the visitors. It certainly is rather sour, but delicious at the same time!
The afternoon performance was a chance to hear the music which has been created so far.
Bursting at the seems for Kahn Cordice's masterclass and Pan Demonstration
The Wind and Brass composition group perform to the team
The Governor General, Sir Rodney Williams, addresses the incredible young composers at the end of the first ever Composition Concert in the Caribbean.
The jazz students with Reuben and Rosie the tutors
The Jazz course present music for everyone to hear what they had been looking at today
Lily and Rosemary visit the ABS TV Studios for an early morning performance
Her Excellency, Karen-May Hill, High Commissioner of Antigua and Barbuda welcomes everyone to the first ever pan Caribbean Composition Course!
The team leaving Gatwick airport ready for their adventure in Antigua
Kahn Cordice demonstrating Steel Pan and how to arrange and compose for Steel pan
Peter & Reuben rehearsing for the concert on stage at Lucky Eddie's
Students use a variety of media to write out music and their ideas.
Kahn Cordice Demonstrating Steel Pan
Reuben outlines his requirements for the music and spoken word course.
Painted by one of the students as inspiration from the fusion course.
The Film group met up with John Hamilton MBE, Resident British Commissioner to Antigua and Barbuda, Charley Williams MBE, Deputy Head of Mission to Barbados and Non-Resident High Commissioner to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Her Excellency Karen-Mae Hill OBE, High Commissioner for Antigua and Barbuda to the United Kingdom and member of the Commonwealth's Board of Governors.
The Commonwealth Resounds team with their Excellencies John Hamilton MBE, Resident British Commissioner to Antigua and Barbuda, Charley Williams MBE, Deputy Head of Mission to Barbados and Non-Resident High Commissioner to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Her Excellency Karen-Mae Hill OBE, High Commissioner for Antigua and Barbuda to the United Kingdom and member of the Commonwealth's Board of Governors.
The film group showcase their graphic scores and discuss ideas for their music.
Alison Cox before her interview on Antigua Barbuda Today
Ka Youn introduces herself and the film composition course.
Lily experiences the magnificent Sir Vivien Richards Stadium for the first time from the press gallery
The wind and brass composition team ask the students to demonstrate their instruments and explain the techniques to make different sounds.