(1988)

In the midst of all the turmoil and fears which beset the nation in the past year, the arts and the artistes as a whole have kept the nation's flag flying high at home and abroad. Seemingly present at every turn and in the centre of all this excellence has been the robust, effervescent and extremely hard-working Pat Bishop. The name has been linked with excellence in the various for a in which she has participated from the chief judge at the Schools' Steelband Festival to her conduction West Indian Tobacco (WITCO) Desperadoes on the steps of New York City Hall. All those tasks have been completed with an aplomb with which she has become associated.

The multi-talented musician and painter staged her first art exhibition in 20 years both in London at Caribbean Focus and at home at Aquarela Gallery. Unfortunately her local exhibition came soon after she lost her position at Solid Waste Management Company Ltd. as Education Officer. Since then she has remained unemployed but this has not deterred her from her cultural mission. Indeed it can be truthfully said that Solid Waste's loss is the nation's gain.

Her association as Musical Director of Lydian Singers began in January and in the 1987 Music Festival, the group won Most Outstanding Choir, Best Religious Choir and Most Outstanding Overall Performers. Not satisfied with that they proceeded to take choral work to new heights in concert with Desperadoes in an acclaimed performance at Queen's Hall entitled "Carols and Classics."

It was the latter which held New York spellbound at a series of concerts sponsored by the New York Daily News. Desperadoes earned rave reviews after sterling performances at Carnegie Hall and the Appollo Theatre under Bishop's musical direction. Back home, she was appointed chief adjudicator at the Schools' Steelband Music Festival in November and her perceptive comments enabled the youngsters to improve on their performances. In so doing, by common consent, the 1987 Festival achieved a higher standard than its predecessors did.

For Bishop the year must have been a fulfilling if not materially rewarding one. It had been a long trek for the Additional Island Scholarship winner who came home with a Fine Arts degree. The frustration of not being able to fully put into play all that one had learnt for the benefit of the society followed as she slipped into the niche of history teacher. It was not too long though before the pull became too strong to ignore and she was back in the fray. In her determination and dedication she has dragged all those associated with her to new dimensions of their talent and her drive can only serve as an example to the nation of the way to face adversity.