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The Signal Hill Alumni Choir
was formed in 1984, as a continuation of the all conquering Signal Hill
Senior Comprehensive School Folk Choir. That choir was brought together
in February 1981, with the aim of participating in the National Biennial
Music Festival. The original school choir made a clean sweep of all the
awards in its various classes, and its overwhelming success prompted the
formation of an Alumi.
In that year alone they staked
a claim to the Louis Blanche Fraser Cup for the Best Folk Choir, 20 singers
and under; the San Fernando Chorale Trophy for the Best Folk Mas'; the
Sir Edward Beetham Shield for the Best Folk Song Choir (over 20 singers),
and the Olive Walke Memorial Trophy for the Most Outstanding Choir in
the entire festival.
Having conquered the Music Festval,
teh choir decided to share their talent with Trinidad, Tobago, and the
region, and even Atlanta and New York in the United States.
In 1987, the group launched its
first album, Xmas Coming. The following year, the choir released
an Xmas Coming sequel, and in 1992, their release Seasons,
captured the moods of typical Caribbean festivities and traditions.
After more than a decade of tireless
work and dedication to preserving Tobago's unique musical heritage, the
choir's manager, Aaron Reid, received a Hummingbird (Gold) on behald of
the choir, at the 1997 Independence Day presentation function.
Although the main aims of the
choir are to foster and promote high standards in our indigeneous art
forms, and to establish cultural links with our brothers and sisters all
over the world, they have been able to evolve successfully, a sound
and a repertoire that is global in its reach, without losing that uniquely
Tobaog flavour.
In July 2001, the Tobago choir
placed second to Ukraine, in the Folk Song category at the International
Music Festival in Wales. They were the first choir from the Caribbean
to achieve such distinction at this 55 year old festival.
The core group of the Signal
Hill Alumni Choir consists of thirty dedicated amateur singers, a pannist,
and several percussionists performing a repertoire of African-Caribean
folk songs, jazz,gospel and calypso. Internationally recognised and acclaimed,
they continue to produce quality performances and recordings that will
surely find a place in the rich cultural legacy of Trinidad and Tobago.
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