Project:                      Antigua and Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra

Artiste:                      ABYSO

Venue:                       Antigua

Date:                          2024-2025

Audience size:         800-4000

‘Would you be available to come and work with our Orchestra on Antigua?’

This is not a sentence one hears every day. The High Commissioner of Antigua and Barbuda to London is, without question, a force of nature. Karen-Mae Hill has an energy and drive that has to be experienced to be believed. Richard certainly was not in a position to say no. This year was his third year with ABYSO and it was, as ever, a delight. It feels like coming home. Supported by Claudine Benjamin and a team of dedicated sponsors and supporters ABYSO has not only been created out of nothing but has grown rapidly in size and quality to enhance the lives of countless participants.

The Kanneh-Masons as a family have to be some of the warmest, most generous and  talented people on the planet. Each year the seven siblings give their time to work the young  orchestra members and visiting players in a week called Play to Inspire. Kadiatu and Stuart, their parents manage to be the calm, warm and caring centre that reflects right across the orchestra and choir, way beyond the family circle.  The final concert of the week brings them together onstage with the Youth Orchestra, the Junior Orchestra and choir, along with guest players from Small Beginnings in Montserrat.

RNSS provided a complete system of Meyer MSL3, UPA and Yamaha control in 2023/24, all of which is now resident on the island. Amazingly the equipment survived the journey and has worked well for various events since then. This year however the 1000 seat St John’s Pentecostal Church under the direction of Pastor Andrews had invested in a new sound system. Paddy Prendergast and his son Jack -local technical suppliers, supporters and residents- stepped in to supply additional staging and a Yamaha CL5.

Cortez Jeremiah needs a mention here. He somehow manages to be everywhere at once, wrangling instruments, staging and logistics whilst still appearing at the right moment to manage to the stage.

Richard brought a suitcase full of mics and ABYSO was joined for the main concert by Maestro Jonathan Bloxham and  Felix Klieser on solo horn. Sophie Biddell joined the team again to give her reassuring guidance in the woodwinds for the main Orchestra and as conductor and mentor for the Juniors.