St. Luke’s will defend title in Band Fest 2007
If the S.C.A. fair isn’t for you, this weekend you’ll also be able to enjoy band music. On Saturday, Love FM will be holding its second annual Belize Band Fest at the Marion Jones Sporting Complex. News Five’s Kendra Griffith has a preview.
Brian Mossiah, Coordinator, Belize Band Fest
“The Governor General’s dream is to introduce music in as much schools as he possible can. And because he started this programme giving instruments to schools, he thought it would have been a good idea to create a programme in which we challenge these groups to come together at least once per year and compete.”
Kendra Griffith, Reporting
And so the Belize Band Fest was born … the first competition was held on April first, 2006 and featured ten competing bands. This year that number has grown to thirteen.
Brian Mossiah
“As well we have three visiting bands, one from Honduras, which is the number one band, Banda Bethel; we have one from Guatemala, Colegio Osorio Sandoval; and there is one other coming from Mexico.”
The competition starts at eight Saturday morning from the Gwen Lizarraga High School with a parade through the city streets.
Brian Mossiah
“The parade will be moving off from Elston Kerr Street, on into Cemetery Road, around the roundabout on to Central American Boulevard, right on Vernon Street contrary to traffic, turning left into Youth For the Future Drive, over the Bel-China Bridge, Douglas Jones Street, left into Freetown Road, right into Princess Margaret Drive, culminating here at the Marion Jones Stadium.”
The bands will be judged at three specific locations along their route before the final segment at the sports complex.
Brian Mossiah
“At twelve forty-five will have an official opening ceremony and at one, the competition starts. It’s going to be a field show and every band will get their fifteen minutes of fame on the field to showcase their marching styles, choreography, their baton twirlers, and the whole nine yards.”
Last year’s winner was St. Luke’s Marching Band, while Mount Carmel Primary took second.
Brian Mossiah
“This time around who knows. The senior bands are coming, I think they’ve gone back to the tape and studied it and they are ready.”
“It’s going to be colourful. You’re going to see out Belizean youths at their best, displaying high levels of discipline and of course their talents. It’s something that I believe in days to come will take the guns out of the hands of out hands and put the musical instruments. That’s what I believe, so we encourage all to come on out and support their favourite band and come to the national stadium and cheer for their favourite band.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Kendra Griffith.
The price to enter the Marion Jones Sporting Complex will be five dollars for adults, three for kids.
