By Derry Etkins
On December 2, 2015, the Tina Insanally Foundation (TIF) hosted a concert in the Savannah Suite at the Pegasus Hotel. I arrived amidst a hive of activity, although a stage had already been set up complete with ‘peace signs’ and the TIF logo. The sound crew and instruments for the accompanying musicians could be seen stage left. While it had originally been intended to hold the event by the poolside, the threat of rain prompted a last-minute decision to move inside to the Savannah Suite.
The show got underway at 19:40 hrs, and for the opening item, we were treated to a choir of about twenty teenagers, all sporting their TIF T-shirts, singing lustily with no sign of nervousness. Their teachers evidently inspired their confidence.
Speaking of teachers, the energetic choirmaster, Keon Heywood, guided the singers’ movement on stage, though there were those who were sometimes out of sync, moving first to the left instead of the right. Mark Lee, guitar instructor at TIF, accompanied them on the keyboard.
After their energetic renditions, the children of the Foundation left the stage briefly, to return with guitars. Again, their confidence was evident, as they strummed chords and played melodies on a combination of acoustic and electric instruments. Their technique was quite sound, given their ages. Kudos to the versatile Mark Lee. A few of them took turns playing the melodies on electric guitars, while Mark accompanied them on the bass guitar.
Throughout these performances, eighteen-year-old Nicholas Hussain from the Mercy Boys’ Home, played the drums as his contribution to the accompaniment. Towards the latter part of the concert, Nicholas, who also plays the clarinet, guitar and recorder, demonstrated his skills on the steel pan.
For many, however, the highlight of the evening was ten-year-old Gael Barker. This young man thrilled us with his performance on the violin. He demonstrated a command of the stage ‒ not to mention his instrument ‒ well beyond his years, and communicated effortlessly with his accompanist, Mark Lee. It came as no surprise when I was told that he is currently in training with the junior section of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra.
The Tina Insanally Foundation should be proud of the work it is doing with the youth of Guyana. I see a bright future for the Foundation, the children who performed at the concert, and for the teachers. With additional skills and experience they will all do very well.
