Governor Gen. donate instruments to Orange Walk
A brand new set of musical instruments was recently handed over to the Orange Walk Drum Corps. The gift is a donation from the Governor General of Belize, Colville Young. As Manuela Ayuso of CTV in Orange Walk reports, the presentation could not have come at a more appropriate time.
Manuela Ayuso, Reporting
The Orange Walk Central Drum Corps has been in the existence since 1989 and has received a previous donation of instruments from Sir Colville Young, but nothing like the one received on Thursday October twenty-sixth. Sir Colville presented the group with over thirteen thousand dollars worth of instruments, including two flutes, three clarinets, an alto sax, tenor sax; two trumpets a trombone, a baritone and a tuba. On hand to accept to gifts was Jaime Briceno, Manager of the Orange Walk Central Drum Corps. The donation was made possible through a grant from UNSECO.
Jaime Briceno, Manager, Orange Walk Drum Corps.
“A couple years ago, the Governor General visited us and we received some instruments which greatly supplemented our already stack of instruments that we had. But the Governor General keeps throwing challenges at us and today he is bringing us another and perhaps a bigger challenge in which these instruments, that he will be presenting and handing over to us today, will take this band to a different level. At this moment we are essentially a marching band, which shifts us to the instruments that we have here, the band, the bugles and cymbals. However, these instruments are very lovely and more sophisticated instruments, which will require a lot more training, a lot more dedication, a lot more care for the instruments and also for the band itself. I thank you Governor General, and I also thank the band and I encourage them and commit our full support to moving up to a higher level. Thank you.”
Sir Colville Young, Governor General
“Well I have toured the entire country, donating instruments as you probably know, but so far it has only been bugle bands and drums and cymbals and bugles and batons. I have donated over thirty of those to schools and youth groups throughout the country, but this is a step further, a step higher, and I am glad that Orange Walk was selected because they have shown they have the stuff, the ambition, the talent. So I selected them to be the one to receive.”
Johnny Briceno, Area Rep. Orange Walk Central
“It would be a tragedy if we cannot put these wonderful musical instruments to use. I have given an undertaking that I will see to it that we get somebody… We have so many different options that he gave us, where we can get help. But even here in Orange Walk Town, we have somebody like Lucio, who’s a very talented musician and I am certain that if we speak to him he can work out something where they can get some sort of training to these young boys and girls in Orange Walk Town.”
The Orange Walk Central Drum Corps is made of twenty-four drummers and twenty-five majorettes. For CTV3 I am Manuela Ayuso.
