Reflections on a Beachside Concert

[dropcap]L[/dropcap]ast Saturday night the Saint Lucia School of Music (SLSM) presented another first-rate concert. Friends and supporters of the school gathered at the St Lucia Yacht Club in Rodney Bay for Interlude at the Beach, a fund-raising performance featuring the group Reflejos.

The SLSM opened in January 1988 and the concert was one of a series throughout the year in celebration of the school’s 30th anniversary. In those decades, many students have passed through the school’s doors and received quality musical education. Some have gone on to careers in the field of music, performing at home and abroad, spreading joy to audiences while flying the flag for the SLSM and for our island. This concert highlighted three success stories with former students giving their time to help the up-and-coming generation of musicians.

Richard Payne, Director of the SLSM, welcomed patrons and introduced them to Coman Fevrier, an 18-year-old cellist who studies at the school and who, through a combination of talent, practice, discipline and hard work, has won a full tuition music scholarship to North Park University in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Coman gave the audience a taste of his skills by performing an introductory piece by Bach: Prelude from Suite No. 1.

Then it was on to the main act, Reflejos (Spanish for Relections), a quartet comprising a visiting Venezuelan music teacher and three of the SLSM’S accomplished alumni.

Guitarist Daniel Petrocelli was introduced to music in Venezuela at an early age through El Sistema, the nation’s programme of exposing all children to musical education. Flautist Anderson Charles is a former member of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF), playing flute and saxophone in the police band. Ronnie Duplessis, who also joined the RSLPF and police band, is competent on trumpet but last Saturday played his current choice of instrument, the upright bass.

Jesse Billy, who received a scholarship to the SLSM to study piano, is also in demand as a drummer and this was his contribution to the night’s quartet. Joining Reflejos in this concert was visiting Venezuelan teacher Kervis Gonzalez on percussion.

Reflejos plus one had the audience hooked from the first bar of their playlist, a fusion of Latin and Caribbean sounds. Tunes included a composition by Daniel Petrocelli and covers of classics: Stevie Wonder’s ‘Isn’t She Lovely’ plus ‘Feel Like Makin’ Love’ originally recorded by Roberta Flack.

All musicians were outstanding so there was disappointment when Charles announced that the group was about to play its final piece; the audience wanted more!

As Richard Payne said, “One thing we at the Saint Lucia School of Music can always promise: the music will be spectacular!”

The next SLSM concert at the St Lucia Yacht Club will be a Beatles tribute on Saturday July 28. Before then, students will give an end-of-year performance, complete with some Beatles numbers, at the school’s premises in Tapion on Sunday 1st July.

The SLSM is proud of all that the students have achieved this school year including a 100% pass rate in the practical examination of the ABRSM (examining board of the UK Royal Schools of Music).