The Tribune

A SERIES of performances by the Bahamas National Youth Choir were highlights of weekend events planned by the Bahamas Embassy and Consular Annex in Washington DC to celebrate the 41st anniversary of independence.

More than 150 Bahamians living in the Washington area, friends of the Bahamas and invited guests joined Dr Eugene Newry, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States, Paulette Zonicle, Consul General to Washington DC and other Bahamian diplomatic officers at the official independence anniversary reception at the St Regis Hotel on Friday evening.

Guests heard independence messages from Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling and Prime Minister Perry Christie and were served with an assortment of native Bahamian cuisine.

The Bahamas National Youth Choir, under the direction of Cleophas Adderley and dressed in their colourful native attire, opened their performance with a variety of traditional Bahamian songs and the Bahamas National Anthem.

On Saturday, more than 200 guests attended a picnic hosted by the Bahamian-American Association at the US Coast Guard Base in Alexandria, and on Sunday, the choir featured at the Independence church service at the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Guest preacher was Rev Don Darius Butler, a Bahamian who is currently pastor of Tabernacle Community Baptist Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The choir performed again for the African Methodist Episcopal Church and other guests with a concert lasting more than an hour, the first half of which was devoted to classical songs. During the second half of the concert, choir members transformed the pews and aisle of the historic church, which was celebrating its 176th anniversary, into a setting for a remarkable performance of show tunes and traditional Bahamian songs.

The choir capped their performances with a performance at the National Art Gallery on Monday afternoon and were guests of Mrs Zonicle at a “grill out” at her Fort Washington, Maryland, residence.

They left for New York yesterday and will perform at the entrance of the United Nations building today.