Ray Luck in Concert with the UWI Festival Steel Ensemble

International Guyanese concert-pianist RAY LUCK will perform in concert with the UWI FESTIVAL STEEL ENSEMBLE under the direction of conductor, Jessel Murray, in a concert at Queen’s Hall on Sunday, October 31, at 6:30 pm. This unique concert collaboration presented by the Patron’s of Queen’s Hall will feature two works for piano and steelband — the first movement of Mozart’s Piano Concerto in A Major, K. 488 (as arranged for steelband ensemble by Jessel Murray) and the world premiere of Guyanese composer Hugh Sam’s original composition, ‘A Trinidadian Rhapsody’, composed earlier this year. Solo piano compositions by Schumann, Granados, and Prokofiev will complete the Queen’s Hall concert programme. Ray Luck last performed in Port of Spain in 1998.

His concert tours have taken him to many continents and most recently to China and Australia. He was awarded Guyana’s national award, the Cacique’s Crown of Honour, in recognition of his international music achievements. The music of Guyana’s leading composer-pianist, Hugh Sam, covers a wide range of genres, such as musicals (Stabroek Fantasy and The Future is Bright), ballet (Legend of the Carrion Crow), and numerous piano pieces based on Caribbean folksong. A lifelong interest in jazz is strongly reflected in his musical style and vocabulary.

The Queen’s Hall Concert is part of a 5-day residency at the Centre for Creative and Festival Arts, UWI, St. Augustine that will include a piano master class for music students and teachers. Ray Luck’s visit to Trinidad is the last stop on a month-long Caribbean tour that includes similar music residencies in Barbados and St. Lucia. Patrons of Queen’s Hall receive a 10% discount on the price of admission.

Bollywood comes to St. Ann’s

After sellout shows in Couva “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” the stage version of the Bollywood smash is coming to Port of Spain on October 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th October. The popular big screen hit which took some 8 Indian film awards in 1999 and has earned millions of dollars at the box office, will be presented on the Queen’s Hall Stage by the “The Crazy Catholic” and his Love & Laughter Theatre Company. It promises three hours of Magic, Love, Comedy, Song and Dance.

Sheldon Narine – The Crazy Catholic – apart from his full time job with bhpbilliton manages Love and Laughter Theatre Company with his wife Cindy. With its 100 strong performers they have a year long programme performing clean comedy shows raising funds for many Catholic parishes and other worthy causes. Narine relates that he got his sobriquet from a friend’s remark who queried his being a preacher (He preaches throughout the Caribbean, at retreats, workshops etc.) a banker and a comedian all at the same time? You are a Crazy Catholic! and the name stuck. A supportive member of the Patrons of Queen’s Hall, The Crazy Catholic has offered a generous 20% discount to Patrons at all performances of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and will also make a donation to the organization. The run opens on Thursday 7th October, 2004 at 7.00 p.m. with a Gala performance with complimentary drinks before curtain time.

Theatre in Alternative Spaces

A treat for guitar lovers at the Simon Bolivar Auditorium, Victoria Avenue. Earlier this year The Patrons of Queen’s Hall in association with the Classical Guitar society presented Eddie Cumberbatch singer with guitarist Anders Kappel. On Thursday 7th October, 2004 The Classical Guitar Society of Trinidad and Tobago in collaboration with The Venezuelan Embassy will be presenting world renowned Venezuelan guitarist Luis Zea in concert at The Simon Bolivar Auditorium. Admission is $120. For further information contact The Classical Guitar Society of Trinidad and Tobago at 645-5775 or by e-mail danishguitarist@tstt.net.tt

Coming in December

Christmas Discounts for the Patrons:

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

OCTOBER

1st - 2nd
Sprangalang and Friends
Melville King Associates

*7th, 8th, 9th, 10th
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
Bollywood hit on stage Produced by the Crazy Catholic and Love & Laughter Company
Admission $75

21st, 22nd, 24th
David Rudder Rhythm River Concert
with Mungal Patasar, Andy Narell, Trini Jacobs, Wayne Bruno
Rhythm River Orchestra
Randy Glasgow Productions
Gala Performance Oct 21st $500
Other nights: admission $295

*31st October
Ray Luck In Concert with UWI Festival Steel Ensemble
Conductor Jessel Murray
Patrons of Queen’s Hall presentation

NOVEMBER

4th
COTT 6th Annual Awards 6.30 p.m.
Admission $75

5th
Lawyers Under Lights 8.00 p.m. (cocktails at 7.00 p.m.)
Admission $85

16th
IN WONDERLAND
Fashion by MEILING 7.30 p.m.
Admission $150

20th, 21st
Glenda Thomas Sings - Recital
Trinidad Theatre Workshop Presentation

27th, 28th
Rhythm - Dance performance by La Danse Caraibe
Artistic Director/Choreographer Heather Henderson Gordon

*Discounted Shows

October 7th - 10th
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Bollywood hit on stage
Produced by the Crazy Catholic and Love & Laughter Company. Admission $75
20% discount for Patrons of Queen’s Hall

October 31st
Ray Luck In Concert with UWI Festival Steel Ensemble,
Conductor Jessel Murray,
Patrons of Queen’s Hall presentation
10% discount for Patrons of Queen’s Hall

News&Views

A New Board for the Hall
The term of office of the Queen’s Hall Board led by vice-chairman Anne Marie de Silva has come to an end. We await the appointment of a new board with bated breath. Until a new board is appointed, Manager Heather Henderson-Gordon is soldiering on, keeping things running under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture.

Haute Couture at the Hall
Internationally acclaimed fashion designer Meiling (photo at left) transports us to Wonderland on November 16th, when she shows at Queen’s Hall. The very modest designer says it’s a huge challenge to show the detail of her creations at the redeveloped Queen’s Hall without the traditional cat walk. However we know she has put together a formidable technical team who plan to make it the Fashion Event of the Year.

Making it Formal
Actually Austin Mc ILwayne has always been a patron of Queen’s Hall, we see him at all the concerts, his firm supports the annual Bar B Que and more recently he has been even more intimately connected - He was the site Project Manager of NH who were the contractors for the Redeveloped Queen’s Hall. We extend a special welcome to him and his wife as members.

Sympathy
Spotlight sends our sympathy to our Caribbean families who have suffered great losses in Tobago, Grenada and Jamaica and the other islands. We hope to be able to do something more tangible in the near future to assist them. Meantime Spotlight will highlight any productions to assist the Hurricane effort. Just send us the details.

Welcome New Members