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For one night only, the  Department of Creative and Festival Arts (DCFA) of The University of the West Indies proudly presents  a complete performance of Carl Orff’s towering choral masterwork 'Carmina Burana'. Jessel Murray will conduct the combined forces of the UWI Arts Chorale , UWI Percussion, UWI  Steel, vocal soloists and special guest – The University of Delaware Percussion Ensemble (Delaware, USA). Dr. Jeannine Remy will also conduct the UWI Percussion in separate works for percussion while Mikhel Carter will lead the UWI African Drumming Ensemble. This  performance will take place at The National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) on Saturday 13^th April, 2013 at 8:00pm.

Composed in the years 1935 to 1936 by Carl Off, 'Carmina Burana' is one of the most well-regarded and popular choral works in existence. The work is so popular that the opening "O Fortuna" has become a staple of movies, advertisements and other elements of pop culture. The text, a mixture of Latin and German is a series of twenty-four poems which celebrates life and love and provides a satirical look at the follies of humankind. Orff set each of the vocal soloists to sing in the extremes of their respective ranges. Candice Alcantara will sing the soprano solo, Chorale Members Keegan Miguel will sing the tenor solo, and Marlon De Bique and Krisson Joseph will share the baritone solos.

This combined performance of UWI ensembles and the University of Delaware Percussion Ensemble was first proposed by Harvey  Price, Associate Professor of Percussion at the University of Delaware as a way for the University of the West Indies and the University of Delaware to deepen ties through cultural exchange. Mr. Price, a regular visitor to Trinidad and Tobago over the last few years, has brought students from his Percussion Ensemble to partake of the rich heritage of Steelpan playing at Carnival Time. He and his students have become virtual regulars with the small band Supernova on the Panorama Stage. The University of Delaware Percussion Ensemble is an accredited ensemble in the Music Department at the University of Delaware.  The ensemble focuses on the literature of the late 20th and 21st centuries written for groups of percussion instruments.  Since its inception in the early 1980’s the group has performed over 150 concerts and commissioned numerous works.

In the last few years, the UWI Arts Chorale has gained a large following in Trinidad and Tobago with their eagerly awaited premieres of choral works. In successive years the Chorale has presented  Bernstein’s ‘Chichester Psalms’ with orchestral accompaniment (2009), the national premiere of  Benjamin Britten’s classic work ‘A Ceremony of Carols’ with harp accompaniment (2010) and Gabriel Fauré’s ever-popular ‘Requiem’ (2012). The Chorale, with the UWI Steel, also offered concerts in 2011 to celebrate the United Nations Year of persons of African descent. The UWI Steel won first place in the World Steelband Festival in 2003 (small ensemble). Subsequently, the ensemble has collaborated with Ray Holman in the production of his popular CD ‘Changing Time' and has performed with soloists such as concert pianist Ray Luck and has been the first choice of composers for experimental steelband music. Under the guidance of Jessel Murray, Senior Lecturer at the DCFA, the Chorale and Steel has completed tours to Massachusetts, New York and Barbados.

The UWI Percussion Ensemble was started in 2003 by Dr. Jeannine Remy and has grown into two groups: the junior and senior percussion ensembles.  Currently in their 10^th year of existence, this ensemble is the first of its kind in Trinidad and Tobago.  The UWI percussion ensemble has performed as part of the 'Rainmakers' at the Percussive Arts International Convention in 2008 in Austin, TX and has produced a CD.  Dr. Jeannine Remy is a Senior Lecturer in Music at the DCFA.

The African Drumming group began in 1996 at the DCFA under the direction of deceased Master drummer and drum maker Mr. Julian Straker and is now directed by Mikhel Carter. Mr. Carter recently earned his BA Musical Arts degree from the UWI  with a concentration in percussion performance and is now an adjunct lecturer at the UWI. He is also an avid musician dedicated to his family band Amantes de Parranda. He leaves for India in May to perform and offer workshops at the invitation of the Rays of Wisdom Society in New Delhi.

This joint production of 'Carmina Burana' promises to be an exhilarating experience for the audience. Tickets are $125.00 and are available at the Department of Creative and Festival Arts (DCFA) at Agostini Street and Gordon Street, members  of participating ensembles and the NAPA box office. For more information, call 645-0873, 663-2141, 663-2222, or 747-7340 or email uwi.arts.chorale@gmail.com or uwi.steel@gmail.com .