St Joseph’s Convent Port-of-Spain recently held its second annual Parang in a Pot last month. The concept of this event is to build community and to showcase the talent of our young people. It is also an opportunity for the students and their families to support the fund-raising ventures of the school in a fun-filled environment while exposing them to this very important aspect of T&T’s culture— parang music.
After weeks of practice with Noel Aming and other volunteer musicians, there were ten competitors in the Junior category and eight in the Senior category. Each group had to perform the test piece—Alegria Alegria. The Juniors did two songs while the Seniors did three.
The winner in the Junior category was Locamor (Form 3K/N) and in the Seniors Las Scientificas Parranderas (Form Five Natural Sciences) topped the field.
The best soloist went to Dominique Akal in the Junior school and Nicanda Rickson in the Senior category. The best costume prize went to Form 3L.
The teachers opened the event with a medley of parang songs, much to the delight of all the students and audience. The Symphony of Saints steel orchestra also delighted the audience with some Christmas carols and a sterling performance of Ah Trini. Marcia Miranda wrapped up the evening’s proceedings with a wonderful performance that had everyone on their feet.
A ticket entitled each guest to a sumptuous meal and there was also mouth-watering Arabic cuisine, doubles and bake ’n’ shark on sale.
Pleased by the success of the venture, principal Anna Pounder said at the end of the evening: “It was a very successful event and congratulations must go out to all the students who worked so hard, and gave of their time and talent to help their school community.
“A heartfelt gratitude to all parents, families and well-wishers who supported the event, to the judges for sharing their expertise with us, to Cecilia Salazar our emcee, to the musicians who gave so much of their time to our young people, and to all the organisers who helped to make it such a resounding success.”
