The International Committee of the Queen’s College of Guyana Alumni Associations (ICQC) in collaboration with Healing Arts Foundation and Theatre Guild yesterday launched the G-Jazz Festival at the Moray House Trust.
ICQC’s Organising Secretary Alfred Granger shared that the idea for the festival was born last year after a concert was successfully held for Queen’s College’s 170th anniversary. From there, Dr Paloma Mohamed had the initiative to take the concept to another level and as such, the G-Jazz Festival was developed.
G-Jazz, which the organisers describe as a festival to “protect jazz that is created by Guyanese, jazz that is performed by Guyanese and inspired by Guyana,” is for the most part a charitable event that will be supported largely by the work of volunteers and will see half of all proceeds made going to 11 identified charities across Guyana. However, the broader goal of the festival, which will be held annually, is to fund the development of a ‘Centre of Excellence for Fine Arts’ at Queen’s College.
Granger stated that the institution, though housed at Queen’s College, will not only cater to those students, but to students of all schools as long as they are interested in pursuing higher education in the offered fields.
Offering some background on what influenced the idea to develop such a centre, he recalled his glory days at Queen’s, when much attention was given to music and the school band and choir were both largely admired. The hope to return to such a time and give students the opportunity to pursue and receive quality training in music and drama, is the driving force behind the committee’s vision.
The four-day festival will run from December 11th through December 14th and is to be held at the Eucalyptus Garden Theatre, aback the Theatre Guild in Kingston.
The event will feature several workshops as well as DJ Jazz, Pan Jazz, Jazz Dance and Floetry competitions. The Jazz concerts scheduled for the first three nights of the festival will be headlined by Ruth Osman, Charmaine Blackman, Quick Pick, Courtney Fadlin, David Mcalmont and Guy Davies. The winners of the competitions will be featured on the final concert night.
The festival, which Granger said was modelled after the St Lucia Jazz Festival, is estimated to be a $10 million venture and as such, the committee is currently seeking a brand sponsor as well as food, beverage and gift franchises to fund the venture. The event is currently being supported by the Ministries of Tourism and Education as well as the Guyana Music Network (GMN).
GNM’s founder, Burchmore Simon yesterday pledged to provide performers and sponsor advertisements for the event. He announced also that Kross Kolor’s Christmas CD would be on sale during the festival and that part of those proceeds would be donated to charity.
More information on the festival and application forms for the event’s competitions can be accessed from the website: http://theatreguildgy.wix.com/ttgg#!jazz-festival/c2220
