BRADES, Montserrat, February 5th, 2013 – The Honourable Premier Reuben Meade on Tuesday officially launched the search for a new national song for Montserrat.
The premier said the search began in 1992 and had reached the stage where one was selected but never ratified by the legislature. Now 20 years on, a new search has been initiated in the hopes that the song selected will reflect the changes and new experiences that the island has been through.
“It is my belief that every island should have its own national song and national symbols that people can identify with,” the premier told the gathering. “Former Chief Minister the late John Osborne said at both CARICOM and OECS meetings that he would never participate again unless Montserrat had its own song to be played rather than the British anthem.”
Meade noted that the intention was to find a song that would be played and sung locally as well as at international forums and Montserrat associations abroad and be reflective of the spirit of the nation.
The song search is being conducted in collaboration with the Cultural Division of the Montserrat Tourist Board. A committee of nine has been formed to organise the competition. They are Justin Cassell, Chairman, Teresina Bodkin, Legislative Advisor, Rev. Dr. Joan Delsol Meade, Montserrat Christian Council Representative, Herman Francis, Assistant Treasurer, Cecil Lake, Musical Advisor, Debra Lewis, Treasurer, Richard Aspin, Governor’s Office, Peter Filleul, Copyright Consultant, and AJ Cassell, Media Consultant.
Department Head, Herman Francis said the song search will go through several phases. He explained that the competition was open to Montserratians and friends of Montserrat locally and abroad. Entries must be submitted by 2pm on May 30, 2013, and all submissions will be screened by June 5th. The finalists will be notified by June 7th with a showcase on the 29th where the top songs will be performed by a band and vocalist.
The intention is for the winning presentation to be announced on August 3, 2013 at the first National Awards Ceremony.
All of the rules and details on entering the competition are available on www.gov.ms.
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