The Emerald Community Singers of Montserrat were formed in 1971 and produced their first concert in that same year. At the time they were formed, it was recognised that the traditional folk songs, stories and dances were fast disappearing from within their own island and the wider Caribbean region. The objective of the group then and now is to research and preserve the folk heritage of the Caribbean islands and to present it through performances. Their repertoire includes over 1,000 Caribbean folk songs that they have collected.
The group is a not for profit organisation and all funds raised by them are ploughed back into the community or go to funding the group's tours, musical instruments and costumes.
They produce three major shows per year, one for St Patrick's Day, a mid-summer show and a Christmas show. In addition they appear in weekly cabaret performances during the tourist season in Montserrat and regularly perform at official receptions and ceremonies. They have appeared on countless cruise ships which have visited Montserrat over the years.
They regularly tour and have appeared in almost every Caribbean country, in North, Central and South America and in the UK and the Isle of Man. A tour to Ireland later in 2011 to celebrate their 40th anniversary is in the planning stage.
During their tours, they have appeared at several prestigious venues including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, at the Royal Commonwealth Society in London, in York Minister and at the British Houses of Parliament in London. They have appeared at a variety of music festivals in the Caribbean, the USA and Britain. They appeared in the very first CARIFESTA (the Caribbean's Festival of Arts) 1978 and also appeared in the 30th anniversary festival in 2008 and were the only group to appear at both festivals.
The group rehearses for 6 hours per week, 52 weeks per year and is currently 24 strong. Over the years, more than 300 singers and musicians have appeared on stage with the group and there are two members of the group who have been with them for the entire time.
The group has recorded five albums, one of them at the prestigious Air Studios. They have also provided back up vocals and music to a number of internationally famous recording artists.
The Montserratian and Caribbean music that the group performs is, for the most part, engendered on the beautiful islands in the Caribbean Sea but also reflects the Irish heritage of Montserrat (the first European settlers on the island were Irish). Many of the folk songs that they perform are based on actual occurrences and real people, some still alive or well remembered. These folk themes come out of social situations that existed in and around the West Indian plantations of yesteryear. Their repertoire includes songs about the volcano that has ravaged Montserrat since 1995 but this major natural disaster has not stopped them singing - it only strengthened their community service and love of music. In addition, gospel music, calypso and reggae have been added to their repertoire as well as sea shanties and songs from the Broadway stage.
The group includes a Business & Technical Director, a Musical Director and a Musical Arranger who is a Graduate of the Leeds School of Music. In addition there is a Wardrobe Mistress and a Choreographer.
Their colourful music, songs, dances and vivid on stage costumes make the Emerald Community Singers a joy to watch during their shows. Internationally acclaimed Voice Coach, Heather Knowles-Korn of Las Vegas, USA in a recent visit to Montserrat described the group as a "National Treasure".
The Island
Montserrat is a tiny island (40 square miles) in the Caribbean Sea. Geographically it is one of the Leeward Islands and has a population of 5,000. It was discovered by Christopher Columbus during his second voyage to the region but he never landed there.
Carib Indian artefacts found on the island show that there was once a flourishing settlement on island which was known to these indigenous peoples as Alliougana.
The first European settlers came in the 18th Century from England and then Ireland escaping religious persecution there. They all became farmers growing Limes and sugar. These farmers left behind an Irish legacy still found to this day in place names, family names and in the culture of the island . There were also waves of African slaves that came to the island leading to a melting pot of cultures which makes Montserrat unique.
Today, Montserrat is a British Overseas Territory with a Governor appointed by the Queen. The local government looks after everything except Defence, Law & order and International Financial Services, which are in the portfolio of the Governor.
The Soufriere Hills Volcano in the south of the island started to erupt in 1995 for the time in recorded history. The eruption continues to this day and has resulted in the destruction of the capital, Plymouth and several smaller villages. The population has dropped by over 50% as people flee the volcano to other countries and now 60% of the island is considered unsafe and is uninhabitable.
Montserrat is the former home of Air Studios and has a superb Cultural Centre in the new town at Little Bay. The Centre incorporates the Sir George Martin Auditorium named after the Beatles' Musical Director and owner of Air Studios who has a home on the island. The Cultural Centre is the performing home of the Emerald Community Singers of Montserrat.
THE EMERALD COMMUNITY SINGERS OF MONTSERRAT
The Singers
The Emerald Community Singers of Montserrat were formed in 1971 and produced their first concert in that same year. At the time they were formed, it was recognised that the traditional folk songs, stories and dances were fast disappearing from within their own island and the wider Caribbean region. The objective of the group then and now is to research and preserve the folk heritage of the Caribbean islands and to present it through performances. Their repertoire includes over 1,000 Caribbean folk songs that they have collected.
The group is a not for profit organisation and all funds raised by them are ploughed back into the community or go to funding the group's tours, musical instruments and costumes.
They produce three major shows per year, one for St Patrick's Day, a mid-summer show and a Christmas show. In addition they appear in weekly cabaret performances during the tourist season in Montserrat and regularly perform at official receptions and ceremonies. They have appeared on countless cruise ships which have visited Montserrat over the years.
They regularly tour and have appeared in almost every Caribbean country, in North, Central and South America and in the UK and the Isle of Man. A tour to Ireland later in 2011 to celebrate their 40th anniversary is in the planning stage.
During their tours, they have appeared at several prestigious venues including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, at the Royal Commonwealth Society in London, in York Minister and at the British Houses of Parliament in London. They have appeared at a variety of music festivals in the Caribbean, the USA and Britain. They appeared in the very first CARIFESTA (the Caribbean's Festival of Arts) 1978 and also appeared in the 30th anniversary festival in 2008 and were the only group to appear at both festivals.
The group rehearses for 6 hours per week, 52 weeks per year and is currently 24 strong. Over the years, more than 300 singers and musicians have appeared on stage with the group and there are two members of the group who have been with them for the entire time.
The group has recorded five albums, one of them at the prestigious Air Studios. They have also provided back up vocals and music to a number of internationally famous recording artists.
The Montserratian and Caribbean music that the group performs is, for the most part, engendered on the beautiful islands in the Caribbean Sea but also reflects the Irish heritage of Montserrat (the first European settlers on the island were Irish). Many of the folk songs that they perform are based on actual occurrences and real people, some still alive or well remembered. These folk themes come out of social situations that existed in and around the West Indian plantations of yesteryear. Their repertoire includes songs about the volcano that has ravaged Montserrat since 1995 but this major natural disaster has not stopped them singing - it only strengthened their community service and love of music. In addition, gospel music, calypso and reggae have been added to their repertoire as well as sea shanties and songs from the Broadway stage.
The group includes a Business & Technical Director, a Musical Director and a Musical Arranger who is a Graduate of the Leeds School of Music. In addition there is a Wardrobe Mistress and a Choreographer.
Their colourful music, songs, dances and vivid on stage costumes make the Emerald Community Singers a joy to watch during their shows. Internationally acclaimed Voice Coach, Heather Knowles-Korn of Las Vegas, USA in a recent visit to Montserrat described the group as a "National Treasure".
The Island
Montserrat is a tiny island (40 square miles) in the Caribbean Sea. Geographically it is one of the Leeward Islands and has a population of 5,000. It was discovered by Christopher Columbus during his second voyage to the region but he never landed there.
Carib Indian artefacts found on the island show that there was once a flourishing settlement on island which was known to these indigenous peoples as Alliougana.
The first European settlers came in the 18th Century from England and then Ireland escaping religious persecution there. They all became farmers growing Limes and sugar. These farmers left behind an Irish legacy still found to this day in place names, family names and in the culture of the island . There were also waves of African slaves that came to the island leading to a melting pot of cultures which makes Montserrat unique.
Today, Montserrat is a British Overseas Territory with a Governor appointed by the Queen. The local government looks after everything except Defence, Law & order and International Financial Services, which are in the portfolio of the Governor.
The Soufriere Hills Volcano in the south of the island started to erupt in 1995 for the time in recorded history. The eruption continues to this day and has resulted in the destruction of the capital, Plymouth and several smaller villages. The population has dropped by over 50% as people flee the volcano to other countries and now 60% of the island is considered unsafe and is uninhabitable.
Montserrat is the former home of Air Studios and has a superb Cultural Centre in the new town at Little Bay. The Centre incorporates the Sir George Martin Auditorium named after the Beatles' Musical Director and owner of Air Studios who has a home on the island. The Cultural Centre is the performing home of the Emerald Community Singers of Montserrat.