Basseterre, St. Kitts (April 21, 2005): Students of the Department of Cultures drumming programme and other drumming professionals will demonstrate their skills at a concert on Tuesday, April 26.
The Basseterre High School auditorium will be the venue for Heartbeat 2005 an annual programme introduced five years ago.
Drumming specialist in the Department of Culture Royd Phipps told SKNIS that the free concert begins at 7:00 p.m. Patrons will be treated to various forms of drumming ranging from the traditional African, and cultural styles to the acoustic types.
Performers slated to appear include the Okolo Tegremantine, Judah and Vivace drummers. Students from primary schools will also take center stage, along with several solo acts.
Phipps indicated that Heartbeat has grown in popularity since its introduction in 2000. He described attendance over the past few years as packed and revealed that the feedback he receives is often positive.
The drumming specialist is hoping to carry over the momentum from years past to the 2005 staging and explained that the introduction of other instruments will help to achieve this.
The emphasis is on drums still but we added a number of new elements to the programme, he stated. Weve added some dancing to the performance and some wind and string instruments along with the drums & to give it a different flavour.
Phipps indicated his belief that his department is on the right track in reviving interest in the art form. He disclosed that the overall objective of the department is to form a national youth drum corps.
The drumming specialist encouraged music lovers, drumming enthusiasts and the general public to go out and support the young drummers as they perform in what he promised to be an exciting and high quality presentation.
