Do you remember this?

Our 2012 Gros Islet Secondary School Choir

Merry Christmas and Happy New year

We had a very busy and highly successful term. I am really pleased with the progress we have made thus far. We performed at number of places and had to turn down quite a few because of scheduling issues. 

I would like to encourage students to keep up this high team spirit and mind set to keep trying. Please take good rest and enjoy the holidays as you will be going through another tough training next term. 

Please don't be discouraged by the pressure of this training. I am certain that those students who endure and complete these trainings until form 5 will have something that nobody can take away from you. New students will join, some will quit but quitters never win. So far we have been excellent. I am looking for students who can persevere. 

This term, we achieved all the things we planned for. We had our annual G factor, Choir made it semi finals and hosted District 1 Christmas tour. We were asked to perform many places such as meeting of health ministers of OECS, universal child day ceremony, youth symposium, private school Christmas events, collaboration with school of music at Cuban embassy, live rehearsal at serenity park and more. 

Choir learnt 4 songs in all, steel pan learnt 6 songs in all, band learnt 2 songs, orchestra 1 song and singers learnt too many songs. If we keep it up like this, we will be releasing our CD sooner than expected. 

Bravo to students who made sacrifices in their playing time, facebook time, family time and sometimes even studying time. I know some of you went beyond your expectation to make this music program exciting and successful. Trust me I know and I will remember these stuff. 

Over the holidays, I would like for choir members to go through the song "forget you" by ceelo green. Band and orchestra to go through "black man come out to party" and "oye como va" by Carlos Santana. 

So to end my message, Have your a merry little Christmas and This Christmas start planning your weekly schedule. All I want for Christmas is for you to be motivated and come fresh to learn more next term. I wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy new year.

Pre G Factor Message

As we are getting ready to witness the best show in the history of Gros Islet Secondary School, I would like to say to the participants that remember the tips and advice from masterclasses and rehearsals, be confident and proud that people are paying $5 to see you perform. Give them your best shot. Enjoy your performance. Balance your time properly so that you can win G factor and pass all your exams. You reached this far and we are very happy with your progress, Job Well Done.

Who will be the next G Factor!?!

Congratulations to the Choir

Our choir participated in the National Choir Competition and made it to the Semi finals. Semi finals will take place in January. Our choir performed "Rock Away" by Beres Hammond. Bass and tenor singing main melody through out the song. Sopranos and altos on background vocals during verse and 3 part harmonies during choruses. Then we end with an a capella of the last chorus. There were total silence for few seconds then everybody started to scream. They did very well and all the sacrifices and hard work paid off. Now they are getting ready for Christmas Community Outreach Tour. After the performance, we were approached by the police not to arrest us for singing so good but to ask us to perform for one the event they are planning to celebrate "universal child day". We also received complements from Mr Jason Joseph saying that this was the first time he heard the choir sang with such confidence. Bravo to all the members of the choir.

Master class with TC Brown

As the week comes to an end, we invited TC Brown to host our master class session on Friday 15th November. Mr Brown gave students some solid knowledge of whole aspect of a performer. His main message was PREPARATION. Preparing everything from the hair style to the color of your socks. Planning every movement and practising. Message which my students really needed. Thanks to Mr Brown for interactive informative session. He even performed for our students and gave them alot of tips. Our principal, a huge fan of TC Brown took special time to join us in our master class. I would like to take this moment to recognise and say a special thank you to the principal Mrs Charles who supported and is still supporting music program at the school. I know music has changed many students' lives and is and will change many more, all this because of the support of our principal. 7 more days before the final round of G factor, the competition is tough as everybody is raising their quality at practice. 

Master Class with Boo Hinkson

Another Master class session was hosted on 14th November. This time it was Ronald Boo Hinkson. Mr Hinkson is known as a legend in St. Lucia for all he has achieved through music. It was really touching. First thing Mr Hinkson mentioned when he arrived. "Opportunities are there in music. Society looks at music as something that has no future as they put more value towards business, science, etc. but I did music. I had a job but I quit because that's not what I wanted to do. Music is what I wanted to do. I drive Mercedes Benz, I have my house on most expensive place in St. Lucia, I have travelled all over the world. I just came from white house. and ALL OF THIS WAS POSSIBLE BECAUSE I CHOSE MUSIC." These words really reached my heart. To this I want to say to my students, don't give up. you might not see the benefit of your actions now, there will be tough times but don't give up. If you feel the passion to the depth of your heart, don't stop, don't give up. One day you will reach that place. Mr Hinkson was passionate from the beginning to the end. Students had a blast as they conversed with Mr Boo. Again Thank you Mr Hinkson for your time and this session. Pictures coming soon

Master Class with Shayne Ross

In celebrating music month, we invited best musicians across St. Lucia to host a master class with G factor finalists and other music groups. This day, 13th November, we have Shayne Ross teaching our students. This session was very interactive and informative. Shayne Ross showed various vocal techniques and ways to interact with the audience. Shayne Ross was so impressed with our students that he wants to invite us to his radio talk show. Bravo to Shayne, he was very passionate. Passionate about music, passionate about his job, passionate about performance. I am sure that students have realized that passion makes a huge difference in performances and the whole attitude. It was a worthwhile session and the experience and information shared were priceless. Students sure took alot home. It was also amazing that Shayne Ross also gave my students a ride to town. It will be a talk of the month. Pictures coming soon