YVONNE WEBB
Over the next two months, talented primary and secondary students, from schools across T&T will display their multiplicity of skills at the 44th edition of the NGC SanFest competition.
Some 92 trophies are up for grabs in the competition, which started on September 17 at the Creative Arts Centre, San Fernando.
At the launch of the festival a few days before, on September 17, senior lecturer and head of the Department of Creative and Festival Arts, UWI, Jessel Murray urged competitors to go for the “wow factor.”
Murray said whether or not they earn a certificate, when the crowds go, “wow,” the competitors would know they would have done their best. As a performer himself, Murray said there is no greater experience than earning a standing ovation.
Murray also addressed the issue of greater transparency in the adjudication of the competition.
“Because this is not just a festival, it is a competition and at a time in our country—and I am not being political—at a time in our country where transparency is an issue, adjudication needs to be transparent.
“We must be able to explain to the young people who come before us, why first, why second, why third. It is critically important.”
Having gone through competitions and experienced the rush of performing and being adjudicated, Murray said he understood the dejection of performers when they did not place in the top three.
“This business of entertainment is a fairly savage business and therefore, you have to be prepared to lose on the way to being particularly successful.
“There is nothing like earning the right of great applause. The wonderful thing about being a performer is when people applaud you, you can take that to the bank and just say, ‘wow.’”
What is SanFest?
• It is a national competition open for talented students, up to the age of 19, from both primary and secondary schools. Since 1970, the competition, which was started by the San Fernando Arts Council, has been providing a platform for talented primary and secondary school students to compete for prizes in the performing, literary and visual arts. This year, 92 challenge trophies are up for grabs in addition to special awards, tokens, cash prizes and certificates.
