On Wednesday April 26th, the Marionettes Chorale will present A Concert of Festival Champions, in celebration of the wondrous talent showcased at this year's Trinidad & Tobago Music Festival.

The evening will feature a variety of musical styles and talent, ranging from classical to folk, steel pan to African classical ensemble, with guest performances by:

Jeunes Agape, choir (Olive Walke Memorial Trophy, Joslynne Sealey Trophies I and II); Germaine Wilson, vocalist (Dorrell Philip Trophy, May Johnstone Commemorative Trophy); Bishop Anstey Senior Choir (Prime Minister's Trophy, Joyce Spence Trophy, T.M.A. Shield, Marionettes Cup, Judge Russell Cup); Enitan Marcelle, pianist (Dennis Kerr Trophy, Lawrence Hawkins Trophy, Maurice Corbin Trophy); Sacred Heart Girls Choir (Desmond Waithe Trophy); Golden Hands, steel band  (Fitzgerald Jemmot Memorial Trophy); The Entertainers, instrumental ensemble (Trinity Award); Lesley Lewis, vocalist (Havelock Nelson Cup); and Jesse Ryan, saxophonist (J.T. Johnson Cup).

It will also showcase the successes of the Marionettes' own Festival winners, including: Vanessa Bushe (Gatcliffe Cup, Chesterton Ali Trophy, Subscribers' Cup, Norah Grant Trophy; Jean Abdool Trophy); Feryal Qudourah (Holitzia Seecharan Trophy, May Johnstone Cup, Richard ffrench Trophy); Tahira Osborne (Trinidad Broadcasting Cup, Merle Albino-De Coteau Trophy); Shari Fitzpatrick (May Johnstone Cup; Virgil Critchlow (Finalist Gospel 13-19); and Johanna Chuckaree (Edna HaynesTrophy). 

In the 2006 Festival, Marionettes members - both from the senior and junior choirs - won 11 championship trophies; two adjudicators' awards; 18 first places; nine second places; and 11 third places. These members continue a tradition of excellence that the Marionettes Chorale has had at the Festival, despite having retired unbeaten as agroup in 1980.  Before withdrawing from national competition, the Marionettes were multiple winners of the JCC Cup for Best Adult Choir; the Mary Elizabeth Evans Cup for Best Religious and Church Choir; the Merchants Trophy for Best Adult `X' Class Choir; Olive Walke Shield for Best All Round Choir; Ashdown Cup for Best Religious Choir (Over 20 Singers); the Lions Trophy for Best Choir of the Festival; and the Founder's Trophy (May Johnstone Commemoration Trophy) for Most Outstanding Performer of the Festival.

A Concert of Festival Champions (Recital 6) takes place at the Queen's Hall on Wednesday 26th April at 8:00pm.  Tickets are $100 and available from Chorale members and from the Queen's Hall Box Office (tel: 868-624-1284).

FESTIVAL OF CHAMPIONS

• Jeunes Agape, choir (Olive Walke Memorial Trophy, Joslynne Sealey Trophies I and II)
• Germaine Wilson, vocalist (Dorrell Philip Trophy, May Johnstone Commemorative Trophy)
• Bishop Anstey Senior Choir (Prime Minister's Trophy, Joyce Spence Trophy, T.M.A. Shield, Marionettes Cup, Judge Russell Cup)
• Enitan Marcelle, pianist (Dennis Kerr Trophy, Lawrence Hawkins Trophy, Maurice Corbin Trophy)
• Sacred Heart Girls, choir (Desmond Waithe Trophy)
• Golden Hands, steelband  (Fitzgerald Jemmot Memorial Trophy)
• The Entertainers, instrumental ensemble (Trinity Award)
• Lesley Lewis, vocalist (Havelock Nelson Cup)
• Jesse Ryan, saxophonist (J.T. Johnson Cup)
• Vanessa Bushe (Gatcliffe Cup, Chesterton Ali Trophy, Subscribers' Cup, Norah Grant Trophy Jean Abdool Trophy)
• Feryal Qudourah (Holitzia Seecharan Trophy, May Johnstone Cup, Richard French Trophy)
• Tahira Osborne (Trinidad Broadcasting Cup, Merle Albino-De Coteau Trophy)
• Shari Fitzpatrick (May Johnstone Cup)
• Virgil Critchlow (Finalist Gospel 13-19) and
• Johanna Chuckaree (Edna Haynes Trophy)                
    
• In the 2006 Festival, Marionettes members – both from the senior and junior choirs – won 11 championship trophies, two adjudicators' awards, 18 first places, nine second places, and 11 third places. These members continue a tradition of excellence that the Marionettes Chorale has had at the Festival, despite having retired unbeaten as a group in 1980. 

Before withdrawing from national competition, the Marionettes were multiple winners of the:

• JCC Cup for Best Adult Choir
• Mary Elizabeth Evans Cup for Best Religious and Church Choir
• Merchants Trophy for Best Adult `X' Class Choir
• Olive Walke Shield for Best All Round Choir
• Ashdown Cup for Best Religious Choir (Over 20 Singers)
• Lions Trophy for Best Choir of the Festival
• Founder's Trophy (May Johnstone Commemoration Trophy) for Most Outstanding Performer of the Festival.