Music camp for Maracas Valley children

Well-respected national musician and music teacher Rosalind Garnes, and her sons Dovano and Diamanda Garnes, recently led a two-week intensive Children’s Music Camp entitled ‘Music is a gift from God’ at St Therese Chapel in Acono, part of St Michael’s Parish, Maracas Valley, St Joseph, ministered to by the Carmelite Friars.

Twenty children of the Acono community learnt to play the keyboard, cuatro, steelpan, recorder and singing in just ten days. The camp ended with a concert attended by parents/guardians, parishioners, volunteers, specially invited guests, and well-wishers.

The children displayed their new-found talents to a receptive and excited audience. Fr Jonathan Steele O Carm opened the concert with prayer while Fr Mikhail Woodruffe O Carm distributed certificates. Kayla Rigoux presented each child with a medal. Christian Garnes was in attendance, supported and volunteered.

Rosalind Garnes has been a long-time Panorama and Best Village judge and music teacher at St Xavier’s Catholic Private school, St Joseph. She has taught music to hundreds of children. She expressed in her closing remarks that the concept of the camp came as a directive from God who called her to empower children specifically in the community of Acono through God’s gift of music.

There are hopes to continue the development of these children’s musical ability and Garnes is passionately committed. She has a fervent desire and hope that the wider community of Acono can have a dedicated location for community music development.

The Catholic community of Acono expresses its grateful thanks to the Garnes family as well as the sponsors and volunteers who made the camp possible. —A parishioner