New Amsterdam Secondary School wins inaugural Secondary Schools Choral Speaking Festival

The Ministry of Education’s Unit of Allied Arts last Friday hosted its inaugural Secondary Schools Choral Speaking Festival at the Theatre Guild in Georgetown.  Choral speaking is defined as a group of people narrating a poem or a dramatic piece.

Students from secondary schools in Regions Three, Four, Five Six And Georgetown participated.  They were Ann’s Grove Secondary School, Belladrum Secondary School, Charlestown Secondary School, Fort Wellington Secondary School, New Amsterdam Secondary School, President’s College, Skeldon Line Path Secondary School, Tucville Secondary School, Uitvlugt Secondary School and West Demerara Secondary School.

Acting Administrator of the Unit of Allied Arts, Mr Kurt Braithwaite said the event provides students with a platform to express themselves, develop their public speaking skills and opportunity to see others utilise their talents in different ways. Braithwaite said whilst the event was the first of its kind, similar events will be held in future.

Chief Judge, Mr Randolph Critchlow, who is a local poet, teacher, and dramatist, made known the event is a culmination of seven years of work and moving around the country and commended those who help to make it a possibility.

New Amsterdam Secondary School copped first place with their piece entitled Guyanese Folklore. As part of their prize, the group will be performing at their region’s Christmas Festival.

Second place was taken by Uitvlugt Secondary School with their piece, The Beauty of Music and in third was Charlestown Secondary School performing their piece, Perspective.

Prizes were also given to the best conductor of each group. Ascena Amsterdam from New Amsterdam Secondary received first prize while Leona France from Uitvlugt Secondary School got second place and De’ Angelo Tomlinson from Skeldon Line Path Secondary copped third place.

All participating students also received a Certificate of Participation.