“Fiddlers on the Reef” promote classics

They don’t have the big sound of Byron Lee or the sexy moves of Square One, but the set of musicians now in the country has probably performed in more local venues than any other group of visiting artists. Ann-Marie reports.

Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting

A little bit of Haydn…A little bit if Celtic medley…a little bit if Bach. It’s Fiddlers on the Reef, A group of musicians who play gratis all to expose children to the classics. Alex Horvath is the founder.

Alex Horvath, Founder, Fiddlers on the Reef

“We started eleven years ago with an idea that originated with George and Corol Bevier at Rum Point Inn, that we would bring some classic music and some light classical music to the children of Belize. It’s expanded and it has become now that we play, for example the concert at Rum Point, we’ll play a concert at Chaa Creek, Fido’s Restaurant in San Pedro. We’ve played dinner concerts at the Radisson, but that all helps the organisation to cover the expenses. We don’t get paid. We pay our fare, and we don’t get paid. We just want to play for the kids of Belize.

And this afternoon primary school kids of Belize along with some students of Anglican Cathedral College gathered at Wesley Church on Albert Street for a taste of the classics.

Sandra Kipp plays the flute. Her father was a jazz pianist who introduced her to music at age twelve.

Sandra Kipp, Flutist

“We’re playing really a great mixture of classical music, music from different countries, such as we have a piece from Ireland, a piece from early American music, a piece from Hebrew Jewish music. And classical music, Mozart, Haydn, a 20th Century work by Malcolm Arnold, very jazzy. So a huge variety for kids.”

Listen to this musical variety, Celtic music coming out of Ireland, pay particular attention to the flute and cello.

Alex Horvath

“It’s important because they get a different view and a different feeling of the cultures of years past. They get a view of the European culture, they get a view sometimes of the Latin culture.”

Felicia Kuylen, a student of Wesley Upper got a little bit more Latin than she bargained for. Alex proved it takes two to tango. (Alex dancing the tango with Felicia) Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.