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The Mannette Academy of Music will host its annual Christmas concert, Tis the Season, on Sunday at the Bishop Anstey High School in Port-of-Spain from 3 pm.
Students performing on the steelpan, guitar, violin and piano will be featured, in addition to guest parang band Del Caribe HD.
Proceeds from the concert go to the academy.
The Mannette Academy of Music was formed in 2017. Initially, it catered to steelpan and music theory students but has since grown to over 200 students who learn the violin, guitar and piano.
Founder and director of the academy Barry Mannette, said with their experienced tutors and advancements in technology, the academy has expanded beyond T&T and now has students in Canada, Germany, Belgium, Australia, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, St Lucia and the United States.
Mannette, a steelpan virtuoso, teacher, arranger and director who began playing the steelpan at age 11, is the son of steelpan veteran Vernon “Birdie” Mannette and nephew of the legendary Dr Ellie Mannette.
His students have achieved a 100 per cent success rate in the Royal Schools of Music Theory examinations.
Mannette is co-music director of the Northern Illinois University All University Steelband, a music tutor with Northern Illinois University Community School of the Arts and is aligned with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, London. He has toured the world promoting pan, and is an award-winning soloist.
This year is a special one for guest artistes Del Caribe, who are returning to the stage with renewed verve and vigour after a hiatus of a few years.
Managed by Nichole Cupid-Joseph and founded in 1999 by Derek Celestine, Julio Torres, Dennies Ferrier and Maurice Nunes, Del Caribe is a leading cross-over band.
Members include Roger Celestine (assistant manager), Nicole Castro, Michael Bain, Rene Jeatto, Christopher Tronchin and Koran Balbosa.
Cupid-Joseph said the band has crossed over from its traditional Latin/parang genre and has included soca and reggae in its quest to “deliver quality Caribbean music and cultural experiences to delight and entertain audiences worldwide.”
For more info call 678-0505 or email mannetteacademyofmusic@gmail.com.
