CHOGM 2026 Day 1: Antigua’s interfaith service
1st November 2026
The Commonwealth Resounds opened its programme for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) with music at the interfaith service in Antigua. The Antigua and Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra (ABYSO) and visiting musicians performed at St John’s Pentecostal Church House of Restoration in the presence of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
In the days leading up to the service, our visiting musicians rehearsed with and mentored young members of ABYSO. The Commonwealth Resounds team of Ellen, Jamie, Natty, Daniel, Poppy, Lilly and Venelle was joined by three musicians from the University of Glasgow, four from the National Youth Orchestra of Canada and Nile, a young Anglo-Trinidadian harpist.
Nile brought her lever harp, and Cadi, one of the Glasgow musicians, brought a harp of her own. As far as we know, this was the first time two harps had played with ABYSO.
Guest conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser led the orchestra, inspiring the players and keeping rehearsals moving smoothly.
The programme included A CHOGM Celebration, a short piece by the young Anglo-Jamaican composer Kaelan Bryden Johnson. It drew on music written by eight young Antiguan composers in workshops with The Commonwealth Resounds over the previous seven years.
‘I was very happy to hear some of my music in this piece.’
‘I was very happy to hear some of my music in this piece.’
Jahfari, one of the young composers whose music featured in the piece