Rotary Club of Barbados Celebrates with the Youth Symphony Orchestra
Tuesday evening October 8th, 2011 was a night of musical pleasure for lovers of classical music, when the RCOB sponsored the Barbados National Youth Symphony Orchestra in concert. With a prompt start the BNYSO got the evening going with one of the best renditions of the Barbados National Anthem heard in recent times. From the first notes of the Brahms Academic Overture, it was clear that the audience were in for a musical treat. Director Mrs. Joy Knight-Lynch skilfully guided them through this rather challenging piece of music which served well to establish the capability of the orchestra and standard to be expected for the evening.
It is often said that music moulds the mind, and young Katrina Nurse, a medical student, humbly stood, then brilliantly executed as the violin soloist in the Allegro from Bach's E Major Violin Concerto.
In what has to be seen as the crowning achievement of the evening, the orchestral debut of Paper Heart drove the audience to their feet. Damien Leacock, a 21 year old graduate of the BCC Associate Degree in Music and James Millington Award recipient at NIFCA, has composed what has to be the most exciting piece of classical music from a Barbadian pen. This 4-movement work, featuring keyboard, flute and piccolo with string orchestra is a truly inspiring and encouraging exhibition of young Barbadian talent.
After a significant changeover on stage, the BNYSO Concert Band took to the stage and delivered the highlights from Exodus by Ernest Gold as a rousing and well executed send off to intermission.
The second half of the concert consisted of one piece - The Nutcracker Suite. A glance across the audience saw many hands tapping thighs and heads bobbing to the familiar melodies. It is not often that we get to hear the suite in its entirety, and certainly not live, and the BNYSO did not disappoint.
All in all a memorable evening for all those who attended.