An outline of the proposed itinery for the visit to Honiara of the Dionysus Ensemble to give training to PASI members
Your readers will know that I have written several times in recent months about the proposed visit to Honiara of the Dionysus Ensemble comprising a group of professional musician from the United Kingdom closely affiliated with the Commonwealth Institute in London.
The visit is to give practical instrument teaching and music education to the group of talented young members of the Piano Association of the Solomon Islands who play a variety of instruments under the guidance and supervision of a small number of dedicated volunteers.
I am sure PASI will be issuing a detailed schedule of Dionysus Ensemble’s visit and stay till the 16 January 2020.
I can say, however, that on most days, commencing on 2 January the PASI youngsters will be kept busy studying music and practicing their instruments from 10 am to 4.30 pm.
Apart from classes, PASI has arranged for several outside performances for the visiting musicians, including giving a special concert for the children at the Children’s Ward of the National Referral Hospital.
It is also being considered that a performance of church or sacred music be performed at St Barnabas Cathedral.
Public performances in which the PASI pupils will play together with the Dionysus Ensemble will be take place at Fishing Village, the Multipurpose Hall and the Kwaimani Building, in the Conference Room.
The Final Concert to be staged by the PASI musicians and their visiting UK tutors will in the Multipurpose Hall and it is expected a good many members of the general public will want to attend.
We are privileged to have the UK musicians visit the Solomon Islands and privileged, too, that so many people and organizations in the United Kingdom have donated substantial sums to ensure the visit takes place.
The message I believe is that although the Solomon Islands lies half a world away from the UK, the Solomon’s and its people are not forgotten and play an essential and important role in the Commonwealth, of which Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the head.
Let me end this brief piece by once more thanking the British High Commission and Solomon Airlines for sponsoring the travel and accommodation arrangements for the special visitors. Also my thanks go to Ender Rence for local transportation and, of course, to the fine group of volunteer teachers that continue to do so much to help local youngsters with musical talent to attain skills and qualifications in music education.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
