April 6, 2001 — Quite a few old pros will be performing in the finals of the 12th annual Arts Alive / Innovative Telephone Classical Music Competition Sunday afternoon at Island Center. But there will be many first-time participants, too.
And that, says Arts Alive producer Rhoda Tillett, is what the competition is all about.
None of them are really "pros" in the technical sense; the competition is open only to young people who do not perform professionally in the music field in which they compete. Few would consider any of them "old," either – they range from 7 to 19 years of age.
"A lot of those who made it to the finals this time have been there before," Tillett says, "but we also have a lot of new faces. It's both of those factors that keep the competition going – and getting more and more competitive."
In fact, this Wednesday's preliminary round for St. Thomas/St. John, held at Tillett Gardens, was "the strongest we've ever had," she says. "Music teachers have come to see this competition as a real showcase for their students. We had many, many talented and enthusiastic young people on the stage, and I did not envy the judges in having to make their choices."
A total of 34 youngsters made the cut to the finals – 19 from St. Thomas/St. John and 15 from St. Croix, where the preliminary judging took place Tuesday at Island Center.
The finals begin at 1 p.m. Sunday and are likely to go until around 6 p.m.. The public is welcome, admission is free and attendees may enter and leave during the breaks between performances. While friends, relatives and music teachers are always in the audience, Tillett says, she would like to encourage "anyone on St. Croix who enjoys classical music to come out."
The finalists are:
Junior division:
– Piano – Tevon Chumney (St. Croix), Ayanna Warner (St. Croix), Jelani Rollins (St. Croix), Christina Zayas (St. Thomas).
– Vocal – Yasmin Sevilla Mannon (St. Croix).
– Duo/vocal – Chatel Christopher and Vanessa Tamar (St. Thomas).
-Instrumental – Niselle Warrican (St. Croix).
Intermediate division:
– Piano – Kashawn Benjamin (St. Thomas), Chaye Bernier (St. Thomas), Darnell Henry (St. Croix), Ajaji Monell (St. Croix), Nicole Moore (St. Thomas), Celia Nurse (St. Thomas), Soyika Ayanna Richardson (St. Thomas), Nathan Sell (St. Thomas), Evan Jerome (St. Thomas), Christal Richardson (St. Thomas), Derique Williams (St. Thomas).
– Vocal – Cheleise Warrican (St. Croix), Odaelys Walwyn (St. Croix).
– Instrumental – Keridan Williams (St. Thomas), Jesse Atwell (St. Croix).
Advanced division:
– Piano – Kendall Yorke (St. Croix), Karen Bellot (St. Thomas).
– Vocal – Melita Etienne (St. Thomas), Daniella Greenaway (St. Thomas), Latoya Lewis (St. Croix), Paul Lawrence (St. Croix).
– Duo/vocal – Karabo Molyneaux and Nicole Thomas (St. Croix)
– Instrumental – Crew Smith (St. Thomas), Kirk Thomas (St. Thomas), Deshawn Hendrickson (St. Thomas).
The student who takes first prize in a category one year may not compete in that category again. Last year's first-place winners were Nicole Moore, junior piano; Jesse Atwell, junior instrumental; Riise LaFranque, intermediate piano; Daniella Greenaway, intermediate vocal; Crew Smith, intermediate instrumental; Detra Davis and Christine Driscoll (tie), advanced piano; Karabo Molineaux, advanced vocal; and Karen Bellot, advanced instrumental.
The judges this year are vocalist Rebecca Parris, pianist Paul McWilliams and pianist/vocalist/instrumentalist Paul Broadnax. Although they have made their mark professionally in the jazz idiom (Parris and Williams closed out the St. John School of the Arts concert season Thursday night and will do the same at Tillett Gardens Friday night), all got a strong grounding in the classics from an early age.
Innovative Telephone (formerly Vitelco) has sponsored the event from the start, contributing $5,000 annually in prize money. Company president Samuel Ebbesen notes in his message in the competition program that many participants over the years have gone to on careers as professional musicians or music teachers. Among them, first-place winners have included Reginald Cyntje, Rebecca Faulkner, Amin Gumbs, Jaqueline Harrigan, Neville Peter, Victor Provost and Gylchris Sprauve. One winner still in high school but already teaching is St. Croix senior Kirby Trim. His 10-year-old student Jesse Atwell is a finalist this year.
For more information about Sunday's program, call the Arts Alive office at 775-1929 or Island Center at 778-5271.
