The 34th Biennial Music Festival was a virtual affair put on by the Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival Association. It provided an opportunity for our budding musicians to test their mettle and, as the Festival motto says, "... to pace each other on the road to excellence."

The Trinidad and Tobago Biennial Music Festival was established in 1946 by Helen May Johnson as a celebration of classical music, and is one of the oldest national music festivals in the English-speaking Caribbean. Its stated mission is to foster musical excellence in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. As such, the festival categories have grown to include Folk song, Calypso, Rapso, and other contemporary genres. The recently concluded festival was limited to only solo vocal and instrumental performances in order to mitigate spread in our current pandemic circumstances.

The Academy for the Performing Arts (APA) has participated in the Music Festival since 2012 and its students have won many trophies and awards over the years. At this year's Music Festival, which concluded with an Award Ceremony on June 5th at Queens Hall, the following members of UTT's Academy for the Performing Arts Vocal Studio received trophies.

Jennelle Ross, a third-year vocal student who sings folk, calypso, rapso, and musical theatre, and is interested in research in culture and the arts. She is currently a finalist in the La Reine Rivé competition. Her awards include the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce Trophy for Calypso Solo - 19 years and under and Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival Association's  (TTMFA) Most Outstanding Junior Indigenous Solo Trophy

Kristina James is a second-year vocal student who sings mainly contemporary music and especially loves musical theatre. She is also the holder of the highest GPA in her year group. Her awards include the TTMFA Folk Song Solo Ladies Trophy and KUA Inniss Award for Most Outstanding Vocal Soloist (Folk).

Jaydelle Baird is a third-year vocal student who sings both classical and contemporary genres. She was recently awarded a full scholarship to Alcorn State University in the US and has been awarded the Gatcliffe Cup (Oratorio Solo Upper Voices), TTMFA Oratorio Trophy: Most Oustanding Vocal Soloist (Oratorio), the Geraldine Connor Trophy (Spiritual Solo Upper Voices) and theTTMFA Most Outstanding Gospel/Spiritual Solo Trophy: Most Outstanding Vocal Soloist (Spiritual).

Patrice Richardson is a third-year vocal student who sings both classical and contemporary genres. She loves musical theatre and hopes to grace the stages of Broadway one day. She has won the Music Amateurs Trophy for Contemporary Religious Solo Upper Voices, the Shoba Seukeran Trophy for Most Outstanding Vocalist (Contemporary Religious, the A. Fitzgerald Harewood Memorial Trophy for Most Outstanding Musical Theater Solo, the Rochford Cup for Most Outstanding Musical Theater Solo Upper Voices, the Lionel Skipper Trophy for Most Outstanding Non-Classical Vocalist, the Joy Caesar Challenge Trophy for Most Outstanding Open Vocalist and the President's Shield for Most Outstanding Open Performance.

Jaydelle, Patrice, Kristina, and Jennelle are all currently vocal students of Dr. Leah Brown, Head of the Academy's Vocal Studio.