By Petra Williams

October 29, 2026 – I was ready, finally!!! This queenaging version of me needed rest after the latest gallivanting outside.  With several events in the annual series leading up to our Independence anniversary celebrations, I finally made time for the annual Festival of Choirs, themed “Voices in Harmony,” on Tuesday past.

On entry, DJ Altitude’s musical prelude set the right tone. Most of the audience probably didn’t even realise they were humming along, some swaying to the familiar, soothing melodies of “fu we music.” The brave and reckless, calling no names, were pelting out lyrics, getting creative mid-sentence whenever automatic recall failed.

Gemonites took the baton in prelude and stumbled for a moment. Their beautiful melodies were out of sync with the patriotic tone already established for the evening. For me, that departure was the one blot on an otherwise delightful night.

The Parade of Flags returned us to the evening’s mood. And what a beautiful flag we have! Representatives of the participating choirs carried the Antigua and Barbuda flag, accompanied by the Royal Police Band of Antigua and Barbuda Drum Corps. The procession brought a sense of occasion and togetherness, setting the stage for an evening of sweet harmonies, creative arrangements, and several outstanding performances.

Master of Ceremonies Ercil Charles Jr. and Mistress of Ceremonies Jashan Hughes anchored it all. Regular attendees noted Patto’s absence, but Jashan held it down, a solid counterfoil to Ercil’s verbal shenanigans as the pair tied the evening together.

The program simply said “National Anthem,” by United Voices leaving us unprepared for the powerful, creative rendition led by the original Boss Lady, Erna-Mae Braithwaite. Listening to the choir and watching the response to her energetic, pointed directions, it was difficult to reconcile the numbers on stage with the powerhouse sound.

For a moment, I reflected on Madame Braithwaite’s body of work: the choirs she has shaped, the powerful voices she has directed and the young singers who have blossomed under her tutelage. So many gifts to the nation. If only for her services to choral music, why haven’t we yet bestowed a National Honour?

But I digress.

Her charges would return later in the evening to add some “Soca Music” to the delights, with a now-iconic former choir baby in tow. A side note: Dear CP, a chorale-backed production soon… just putting that thought out there.

Back to the programme, and the J T Ambrose Primary School Choir was establishing itself as an early crowd favourite. With “Just Do You” and “Small Days,” the young singers made their presence felt. Those nursery-rhyme memories, harmoniously delivered by the young ones, were a delight.

The Combined Secondary Schools Choir was surprisingly small. Their renditions of “Total Praise” and “Let’s Build This Land to Fame” were pleasing contributions, though the numbers left me wishing for a fuller representation of our secondary school voices.

The National Choir of Antigua and Barbuda, looking rather trim itself, gave a good account of its capabilities with “Great, Great is the Lord” and “His Grace is Sufficient.”

Then came the UWI Five Islands Campus Singers, under a new director, Mrs Chenise Jarvis Daniel, with a balanced, sweet, and creative presentation. “Children Go Where I Send Thee” and “Ducana Sweet” offered different flavours, and the singers handled both with an appeal that made theirs one of the evening’s most enjoyable contributions.

The Antigua Community Players brought energy and melody in generous measure. Their presentation of “Liberty” and an “Antiguan Medley” combined musicality with the performance spirit that makes an audience sit up and take notice. The delivery had life, the sound had sweetness, and there was plenty to enjoy, plus a grand singalong.  Of course, the effervescence of choir director and leader Master Rudolph Davis provided one of the most entertaining moments of the night.

Following the Community Players were the Inspire Choir and the Antigua and Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra (ABYSO), with “Thou O Lord” and an “Antiguan Folk Medley.” They delivered again. Perhaps I have grown so accustomed to their consistently high standard that I am in danger of taking it for granted. Their quality of execution and ability to hold an audience’s attention deserve recognition every time. 

Then came the Grand Finale: “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Voices from all the evening’s choirs combined, accompanied by the Gemonites Steel Orchestra and guided by Mrs. Braithwaite’s baton. A bonus, show-stopping musical feast for our ears.

A word, too, for the sound that allowed those voices and arrangements to shine. Clean and smooth, it suited the location and let us enjoy the music throughout the evening. At a festival of choirs, that matters. The sound deserves its own round of applause.

I arrived ready for an evening of music, and “Voices in Harmony” gave me much to enjoy and a few things to ponder. There were ample rewards for finally getting myself out of the house, and reminders that my Antigua and Barbuda is growing up nicely, aches and pains aside. We are a talented and creative people, making good use of our space in God’s plan.

The gallivanting, it seems, continues, and Spectating gets better each Independence celebration.  

Tonight, we move on to the Night of Theatrical Presentation, meet me there!!.