By Lesroy W. Williams
Observer Reporter
(Basseterre, St. Kitts)—The Wesley Methodist Chapel in Basseterre hosted a Choir Chimes Workshop for children and young people from the May 12-17 at the Methodist School Hall on Victoria Road.
Mr. Jack Horner and his wife Gail, flew in from Montgomery, Alabama, to assist in conducting the workshop at the invitation of Dr. Robertine Chaderton, a member of Wesley Methodist Chapel. Mr. Horner and his wife came to learn about St. Kitts through Dr. Milton Davis, who was a Methodist minister in St. Kitts some years ago. Dr. Davis is now a member of First United Methodist Church in Alabama where the Horners are also members.
Dr. Robertine’s vision was to get the children and young people involved in something special and positive to give the young people an alternative to the negativity surrounding them.
Elizabeth Condel, who is the organist at Hope Chapel in New Town, was also a part of the workshop as it falls under the portfolio of the music ministry. She said that she was really excited to get the young people focused and involved. Mrs. Condel will continue to work with the children in helping them to implement their choir chiming skills.
Linda Rock, who is a Trinidadian, but who has lived in Barbados for many years was invited to facilitate the workshop. She has extensive experience in the area of choir chimes and has been working along with the Bethel Chimers of Barbados for 20 years. The group has traveled extensively to conduct workshops in choir chiming. They have conducted workshops in places such as Nevis, Trinidad, Jamaica, Antigua, St. Vincent and England. Linda was quite pleased with the response of the young people because according to her the art of choir chiming requires a lot of discipline.
“I am seeing the discipline and I am seeing enthusiasm but most of all I am seeing a youthful readiness to do something that is new and hence we have our hope in the future of a young people because they want to do something new, they are ready to absorb because this is the time for learning. It has really been a joy for me to be here,” Linda Rock commented about the overall success of the workshop.
