“Music is infectious”, Mr. Lennox Vanterpool told a large, appreciative and enthusiastic audience at Bethel Methodist Church, South Hill, on Sunday, September 27. The professional music teacher and conductor, made the comment as he, and the Concert Band of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, like their listeners, savoured their own splendid performance using a variety of instruments.
Dubbed Sound Review – 2015 Encore, the event was first presented at St. Augustine’s Anglican Church, East End, on September 3. It immediately became “a hit presentation” with demands for a repeat performance in the western area of the island. The musical performance grew out of a three-week summer camp which Mr. Vanterpool conducted for students to sharpen their skills, with the use of a wide variety of instruments, and as part of a continuing effort to draw attention to the talent of the youngsters.
Listeners were so carried away that, even before the beautiful music faded at the conclusion of each presentation, there were standing ovations and applause in the pews.
During the intermission, Mrs. Joyce Webster Stuart, Principal of the School, commended Mr. Vanterpool and other teachers in the Music Department for their work, as well as the students for their musical skills. She pledged her support for the performing arts which she saw as an important area of school life and learning.
Proud of the accomplishments of his students, Mr. Vanterpool said a number of them had been fortunate to attend training workshops at the University of the Virgin Islands (his alma mater). This exposure had helped with their musical development and was an opportunity which would continue to be explored.
The Anguillian asked Mr. Vanterpool how far he intended to take the young musicians during their school years. “As far as the talent, and as far as our finance, and as far as space on the curriculum will take us,” he replied. “Clearly, we see that the Band needs to be more than an after-school activity. I am aware of the constraints currently on the school’s curriculum…But we would like to get our best musicians – and those who are most interested – on the curriculum, so we are looking forward to bigger and better things.”
He was pleased with the involvement of a number of community persons in the programme, and had this to say: “We have a number of instrumentalists who came along to help us – not very many [of them] because 95% of the programme participants are our children, but one or two persons assisted in key areas. I am indebted to our community members who always look for opportunities to help, and we are grateful to them for their contributions.”
The 20-item programme of relatively short tunes comprised the following: Gymnopedie No. 1; A Call For Peace; Total Praise; At The River; Largo from New World Symphony; I’ll Be There; Somewhere Out There; Climb Every Mountain; The Tempest; Flight of the Flutes; Blazing Clarinets; the Muffet Show Theme; the Addams Family; Sesame Street Themes; Lassus Sax; Aint’t Misbehavin’; Oye Como Va; All of Me; Blues Idol; and Just A Closer Walk With Thee.
The musical instruments played mainly collectively, and sometimes individually, were the flute, trumpet, clarinet, trombone, saxophone, percussion, bass guitar and keyboard/piano.
The opening and closing prayers were delivered respectively by Circuit Steward, Mr. Sanford Richardson, and Reverend Dr. Wycherley Gumbs, Superintendent Minister of the Anguilla Methodist Circuit.
The proceeds of the performance were earmarked for two goals. One was to provide monetary assistance for the people of Dominica who suffered from the effects of Tropical Storm Erika on August 27. The other was to raise funds for the purchase of additional musical instruments for the ALHCS’s Concert Band.
