The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and the United States Embassy hosted a music workshop and concert at Umana Yana earlier this month featuring a six-member Military Band based in Florida.
The band which comprised bass, woodwind, piano and percussionist musicians came to participate in the embassy’s Fourth of July celebrations, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported. They accepted the ministry’s invitation to interact and share their skills with local musicians and music students.
According to the ministry, the band conducted a workshop at the Umana Yana on July 2 with elementary training in saxophone, trumpet, trombone, keyboard and bass guitar. “One hundred local participants from the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Music Teachers’ Association and other interested persons benefited from the interactive learning session,” the ministry said in a press statement, adding that about 40 members of the Berea Seventh Day Adventist Church, the Albouystown-based Marching Band – the Mercury Drum Corps were also invited.
Later that day the military band performed at a concert held at the same location which attracted the presence of Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony, US Ambassador Brent Hardt, and officials from the ministry.
On July 4, after performing at the US Embassy’s independence celebration, the band journeyed to President’s College for a music workshop and concert for students and staff.
GINA said the collaboration between the embassy and ministry was as a result of the realisation of ministry’s National School of Music and the ambassador’s stated aim to increase the exchange of cultural activities, particularly those related to music.
