Youth Band holds Christmas concert
There’s nothing like a little night music, and it’s even better when children are the stars. This Friday night while you are in downtown Belize City, you may want to stroll down Albert Street for a Christmas treat. News Five stopped by one of the rehearsals for a preview of coming attractions.
Luis Chan, Conductor, National Youth Band
“I would like to invite especially the musicians. I am inviting the general public but especially the musicians to come and relax and listen to a nice variety of music including Belizean arrangements as, “Good Mawnin’ Miss Lady,” and let them enjoy and have a nice Christmas.”
It will be the band’s second Christmas concert since it was formed in 1998. Initially the band had eighteen young members, today twelve have remained and the ensemble has been complemented with several older musicians who bring experience to the group. The group has been practicing throughout the year for Friday night’s open-air concert.
Q: “Is it different preparing for an open air concert than when you have an indoor activity?”
Luis Chan
“There is a difference because in open air concerts you need to blow a little bit heavier and you need to have your backbone, your trombones, the tenor sax and the alto sax and the bass. You need to have more of that instrument whenever you are doing outdoor concerts.”
Luis Chan, the National Music Coordinator and the band’s conductor says although the band is relatively new, he is impressed with the progress they have made.
Luis Chan
“Well they have been doing fine. In fact I am really happy to note that in the space of one year they have really improved very much. Working with the young people it takes a lot of time, it is not an overnight business but as you will see how the program will go, I know that you will also find out that they have been doing well.”
Whether you will be shopping or not on the night of the concert, the band invites you to a take trip out to the corner of Albert and Bishop Streets to enjoy an evening of good and inspirational Christmas songs.
The Christmas Open Air Concert gets underway from eight, Friday night. Chan says an added attraction will be the performance of popular vocalists, percussionists and horn players. Musicians from the districts will also participate.
