The Guyana Defence Force Band Corps on Friday concluded a six-month period of specialist training under the tutelage of Chinese military musicians by delivering a special concert at Base Camp Ayanganna, the GDF said in a press release.
An audience that included as many as 250 Officers, Other Ranks and Civilian employees of the GDF was thrilled by the musical renditions, which included the National Anthems of China and Guyana.
The performances also included national songs of Guyana, compositions by Chinese, Belgian and Aus-trian composers and Danny Flores’ Tequila.
Tequila was well received as it involved the audience, but it was Lance Corporal Deon Fraser’s spirited and well-executed tuba solo of the Old Bear Polka in G-Major which received a standing ovation from the audience, the release said.
It was the first time in the history of the GDF Band Corps that anyone had played the tuba on that scale.
The band was under the batons of Guyana Defence Force Director of Music, Major Robert Burns and Instructor from the People’s Liberation Army of China (PLA), Colonel Luo Feng Dong.
Colonel Dong together with four other musical instructors from the PLA have been engaged in an extensive training programme for members of the Band Corps since July last year. The training is the direct result of a bi-lateral agreement between the governments of China and Guyana.
According to the leader of the delegation of Chinese music specialists, Senior Colonel Zhou Shi Bin, the past six months has been a very productive period during which he and his team witnessed the strengthening of the capabilities of members of the GDF band Corps.
“The GDF soldiers and musicians have worked very hard, and despite interruptions for national elections and Christmas, were able to significantly enhance their ability to play music,” the Colonel was quoted as saying.
He added that the bond between the militaries of the two countries has been strengthened through this bi-lateral arrangement, and expressed the hope that co-operation between the PLA and the GDF in the area of musical development will continue.
Meanwhile, GDF Director of Music, Major Burns said that the six-month training was definitely beneficial to the Band Corps. “The general sound of the Military has improved and is now being tuned to the international pitch level.”
He also noted that two ranks gained valuable training on the flute and the tuba which has resulted in the filling of two vacancies in key areas of the band. Major Burns said he is confident that with more resources and continued professional training the GDF Band Corps will soon be a force to be reckoned with regionally, the release added.
