The five-day Guyana Musical Arts Festival (GMAF) kicks off on Tuesday night at the National Cultural Centre.
Over 300 entrants will vie in 31 categories for trophies, certificates and of course bragging rights. The competition caters for all age groups – nursery to adult and includes vocal solos and duets, verse speaking choral speaking, choirs, piano, recorder, steel pan, violin, guitar, woodwind and brass players among others.
The festival is organized and hosted by the GMAF Inc under the chairmanship of David Dewar and joint patronage of Minister of Culture Dr Frank Anthony and Dr Erv Janssen of the Partners in Mission Programme of Lutheran Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.
A press release from GMAF Inc noted that since its resuscitation in 1992, the festival has been held in 1994, 1997 and 2009 and that it has the unwavering support of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.
After the opening, which is at 8 pm on Tuesday, sessions will be held daily from 3 pm for children and 8 pm for adults Championship sessions are billed for Saturday, April 30 at 3 pm for children and 8 pm for adults.
Tickets are on sale at the National Cultural Centre box office and the GMAF Inc secretariat, Dewar’s Music School, 221 Charlotte Street, Bourda (behind IPED).
