Immaculate Conception Co-Cathedral Fund-Raising Concert

By Veronica Phillipson

~~Adz:Right~~ Oh my, what a treat. Two professional performers, dedicated to their faith and their disciplines, appeared in concert at the Sir Cecil Jacob’s Auditorium in Bird Rock, Basseterre on Thursday, June 12.

ValLimar Jansen had energy, drive, humour [if Ms. Goldberg is unavailable for Sister Act 3, then I know someone...], musicality in abundance, delivering a wide range of styles, and she was a born communicator, involving each and every one of us, treating us all like equals, and enticing the most reticent out of their chairs, on to their feet to join in such numbers as, ‘Walk Together Children and ‘You Gotta Move’. Painless, spiritual aerobics! ValLimar Jansen’s command of public performance was evident throughout. Her story telling was captivating and she held the audience spell-bound. She was a ‘pro’ through and through.

Tom Kendsia’s strength lay in his compositions, and particularly moving was his ballad [should I say ‘hymn’? To me the lines had become blurred most beautifully], ‘Stand By Me’, and ‘Endless Is Your Love’, inspired by a visit to Ireland, starting with a piano improvisation over a track of Irish pipes, before he brought in the two solo voices. He was an accomplished pianist and a very supportive and sensitive accompanist, unfazed by the sliding foot pedal.

Members of the Co-Cathedral Senior and Junior choirs were involved, at ValLimar’s invitation, both in song and in leading the movements. Judging by their looks of utter joy, it will have been an experience to remember and cherish.

Thank you to the people concerned in bringing these two performers to St. Kitts, and even though I was concerned about a concert in a conference centre I need not have worried. ValLimar drew us in and created an intimate and thoroughly easy ambience. More please.

Financially, and it was after all a fund-raising event, the event should have been a success, not least because of the extraordinary generosity of those benefactors who donated air flights, hotel accommodation, meals, transport and the venue. At a guess, there may have been 300-plus people in the audience, and if we want to change those posterior punishers [pews to you] then we must increase the numbers, and, dare I suggest, omit any mention of ‘fund-raising’. And ‘Ouch’ to that.