National Children's Festivalof the Arts Awards
Government Information Services
On Thursday, 4 May, Childrenof the Cayman Islands took to the Harquail stage a final timeas the National Children's Festival of the Arts (NCFA) 2000 endedwith its awards function.
Wesleyan Christian Academy won eleven music cups and was awardedthe British Caymanian Trophy for Most Music Cups. The Rotary CentralTrophy for Creative Writing, awarded for the best short story,went to Krystel Langlois from George Hicks High School. Coutts(Cayman) Music Awards are presented to the schools with the mostmusic cups at the three participating levels. John A. Cumber andSavannah tied for the primary school trophy. George Hicks HighSchool won the junior high trophy, and the senior high trophywent to Wesleyan Christian Academy.
NCFA Chairperson and Chief Education Officer Dr. John Tudor welcomedthe children, parents, and dignitaries. He emphasised that over1000 children participated in this year's events, saying, "Everyoneof them has been a winner - as have those of us who have seenthem perform."
The Minister for Education, the Hon. Truman Bodden also spoke.Pointing out that the festival continues to evolve, he said thatthe Amin Mohammed Steel Band competition was a welcome additionto the NCFA.
Both Mr. Bodden and Dr. Tudor thanked festival coordinator Ms.Stephanie Williams, the judges, teachers, and other helpers andsponsors, particularly the event's major sponsors, British CaymanianInsurance Company and Coutts (Cayman).
The awards presentation alternated honouring the festival's groupefforts with performances. Representatives from cup-winning choirs,bands, ensembles, and dance and drama troupes were called on-stageby MC Mrs. Marcia Muttoo.
Mrs. Famida Mohammed was present to hand trophies to the sevenwinners in the first NCFA steel pan competition honouring herlate husband. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for EducationMrs. Joy Basdeo, Deputy Chief Education Officer Mrs. Nyda Flatley,two senior education officers, Mrs. Francine Gardner and Mr. HerbertCrawford, and Mr. Carl Brown, representing British Caymanian InsuranceCo. and Rotary Central, also presented awards.
The evening's performances began with a brass trio from WesleyanChristian Academy, accompanied by festival organiser Ms. StephanieWilliams, playing the National Song. The school's brass ensemblethen played its cup-winning fanfare from Handel's 'Water Music'.
The programme of cup-winners continued with three speech solos,two dances from Miss Jackie's School of Dance and one from RedBay Primary School, a piano solo from Nicole Barnett of WesleyanChristian and a pan solo from Shane Peynado of Cayman School forPan. The Bodden Town Recorder Ensemble and the George Hicks HighSchool Saxophone Ensemble played, and the Savannah Primary SchoolInfant Folk Choir performed 'Mr. John Boulay'.
Cup-winning solo performers will receive their awards, along withthe 207 plaque and 214 certificate winners, as schools hold assembliesto honour their performers. In total 124 pieces won cups: 76 inmusic, 26 in speech, 15 in creative writing, four in dance, andthree in drama. In total cups, the breakdown for participatingschools is George Hicks High School 19, Wesleyan Christian Academy13, John A. Cumber Primary School 12, John Gray High School 9,St, Ignatius 8, and Spot Bay Primary School 8.
George Town, Savannah, and Red Bay primary schools received 7apiece, Cayman Prep and Cayman School for Pan 6 each, and BoddenTown Primary School, Cayman Brac High School and Triple C 4 each.East End and Creek primary schools and Miss Jackie's School ofDance each received 2, and Cayman Academy, Faulkner Academy, GraceChristian Academy, and West End Primary School each received one.