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One of the leading choirs in
the country, the Southernaires has built itself a reputation of excellence
not only in South Trinidad, but throughout the country.
Founded in 1976, the choir is led by Joy Caesar, a former lead soprano
and Music Festival champion. Caesar was a musical festival winner,
adjudicator for various steelpans, choral and vocal festivals, conductor
of the performance of Peter Minshall's Sans Humanite in 1986, participant
at CARIFESTAs in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, and played lead role
as Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare's Macbeth with the San Fernando
Drama Guild. Caesar has also been the driving force behind Music
Festival winners from within the ranks of the Southernaires including
Cheryl Ann Baptiste, Ermine Hinds-Williams, Arnold Ransome, Michelle Dowrich
and Deana Dieffenthaller.
The Southernaires hold the distinction of staging the country's first
local folk opera Dalinda, which was written by another
music luminary, Pat Bishop. They have performed at benefit
concerts in the Virgin Islands, and have won a slew of awards including
the Order of St. Clement for outstanding service, the Heritage Hero Award
from Our Lady of Perpetual Help RC Church, the Southern Spirit Award from
the Chamber of Commerce and the Humming Bird Gold medal for distinguished
service in the field of music. With a membership of 55 drawn
from South and Deep South, the Choir continues to thrill audiences with
their varied repertoire.
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