The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

SINGING till it was almost impossible to sing no more, rehearsing until the small hours of the morning, and mustering a fortitude to perform through grief was what it took the Bahamas National Youth Choir to win two gold medals and one silver at the World Choir Games in Cincinnati.  

The three medals did not come easy, despite bringing back two silver medals from their first trip to the World Choir Games back in 2008. In order to be fully prepared for the competition, they had to once again lay a strong foundation.

The choir won a gold medal in Show Choir and Scenic Folk Music, and a silver in the Mixed Chamber Choir category.

Cleophas Adderley, director of the choir, told Tribune Arts winning the medals was a “great feat”, given they had to face many challenges home and on the road.

“There were many long nights of singing, many long nights of explaining why certain things had to be done. It was also difficult during practice to get the group to be consistently good. On top of all that we had people on the trip dealing with personal issues. It was difficult for one member in particular because she got news that one of her family members had passed away. I had to let her know, I knew exactly what she was going through. My mother passed away some time ago on the opening night of the choir’s concert, and was buried on the closing night. Despite that, the show had to go on and you have to give your best when it is difficult to do so, for the good of everyone,” Mr Adderley said.

In order to fully appreciate the choir’s achievement, he said one must understand the World Choir Games are deemed the “Olympics for choirs” and they had to compete against the largest and most competitive choirs around the world.

Sixty-four countries and 362 choirs took part in the competition this year.

“There were big countries like Australia, Colombia, Canada, Nigeria, Thailand, China, the Unites States and Great Britain. To illustrate this even more some of these countries had several choirs in different categories. Additionally some of them only won one gold medal. So the Bahamas really accomplished a great feat.”

The countries with the most participating choirs were top medal winners including China and the United States.

Although the choir is not entirely the same group of singers from 2008, Mr Adderley said he knew exactly what areas needed to be perfected. They included diction, movement, and interpretation.

“We brought people in to critique and give their views on our singing. Keith Saunders, director of Dance Theatre of Harlem, critiqued our movement and choreography. We were very careful of our choice of music, making sure we demanded the attention of those listening. We pulled all the stops this time,” he told Tribune Arts.

The Choir Games are held every two years. However, the National Youth Choir will not be participating in 2014. If they compete, it would put a strain on them to raise funds, Mr Adderley said.

The choir receives a subsidiary from the government, it is barely enough to buy basic things like costumes he said.

“Some of the costumes are rotting on the back of the girls but they prefer to stitch them up and go out and perform. We do not have some basic stuff. We need to replace some of our instruments like the guitar, and percussion instruments.”

Apart from that, the choir also needs a suitable alternate rehearsal space to be used whenever their current rehearsal space is unavailable.

The choir holds rehearsals at St John’s College and the National Dance School. 

“When these spaces are not available we find church to rehearse,” he said.