Christmas is a time of love and giving. Therefore when Anguilla was the only Caribbean territory visited during the current Atlantic Rim Festival by Essemble XX1 Moscow, at that time, it was a special treat for the island.

Conductor Lygia O’Riordan with Orchestra at St. Mary’s Anglican Church

The conductor of the classical music group, Lygia O’Riordan, who said she had fallen in love with Anguilla on a previous visit, fulfilled a promise to bring the band of “Russians and foreigners working together in Moscow” to the island. Now, according to her, they too have become lovers of the island – so much so that they are planning to return here again.

Audience at St. Mary’s Church enjoying the classical music

More than that, the classical musicians are thinking about using Anguilla as the Caribbean outlet from where they would launch their tour of the region sometime in the near future perhaps. The musicians gave public performances at St. Mary’s Anglican and St. Augustine’s Anglican Churches and at the Gazebo on the grounds of the Scouts and Guides Ruthwill Auditorium, much to the sponsorship of the business community and the support and appreciation of the general public.

Bishop Brooks (Top right) sits with audience at St. Mary’s Church enjoying the classical music

Anglican Bishop, the Right Reverend Errol Brooks, who played a key role in arranging the visit of Essemble XX1 Moscow, commented: “It was really a Christmas with a difference in the sense that the involvement of musicians augmented our usual programming. It was also a means of exposing our youngsters and public in general to live classical orchestra. It was really beautiful and the beginning of other concerts. Further, Anguilla might become the base from which this particular orchestra would operate throughout the Caribbean in the future.”

Bishop Brooks, a lover of classical music, continued: “One of the things I should also mention is that the lead violinist actually practised one or two of our youngsters who play the violin through the tutelage of Lennox Vanterpool. She (the violinist) feels that theyy have good potential.”

The top cleric was grateful to a number of business places and individuals for having risen to the occasion to assist the group. He said the main sponsor of the musical tour to Anguilla was Caribbean Commercial Bank which provided US$10,000 in sponsorship funds. Other sponsors included the National Bank of Anguilla, Scotiabank, Social Security, Cable and Wireless, hotels and restaurants as well as a number of individuals.

Audience at St. Mary’s Church enjoying the classical music

Chairman of the Anguilla Tourist Board, John Benjamin, who was also intimately involved in the group’s visit to the island, joined Bishop Brooks in thanking the various sponsors and individuals for their contributions at short notice. He was also grateful to a number of persons who housed the visiting musicians.

Reflecting on the number of festivals and other associated activities he had helped to encourage, Mr. Benjamin said the aim was to reach different people – both Anguillians and visitors – with various interests. He stated that the Atlantic Rim Festival by Ensemble XX1 Moscow had catered for a different market.

Audience at St. Mary’s Church enjoying the classical music

“On the first night at St. Mary’s Church, I was surprised to see the [large] number of local people and visitors there. Compared with the Jazz Festival, there were more local people attending this classical festival that the jazz,” he observed. “This was the fastest event we have created. The musicians live in Moscow where they have problems with the internet and that was one of our difficulties; and then we had to raise the funds within a short space of time. I think the festival was a success based on the time frame and the circumstances under which it was done. I am pleased with it and I know that, as the conductor told me, we have twelve new ambassadors to promote Anguilla. All the twelve musicians fell in love with Anguilla.”

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