Author: Adam Walters

The third instalment of the Symposium of Art Music from the Caribbean was held April 4-6, 2019 at the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico (CMPR) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The CMPR hosted the event as part of its annual Symposium of Music Research. For this third Symposium of Art Music, the event adopted its new name, Puentes Caribeños (Caribbean Bridges). The goal of the event's organizers and participants is to hold it, with its new name, bi-annually at alternating locations throughout the Caribbean.

The Symposium began in 2013, conceived by Dr. Christine Gangelhoff from what was then the College of The Bahamas (now the University of The Bahamas), as the International Symposium on Composers of African and Afro-Caribbean Descent. The Symposium brought together musicians, composers, scholars and students to engage with the topic of Caribbean art music. This symposium was followed by the Symposium on Concert Music from the Caribbeanheld at UTT APA in November 2014, organized by UTT's Dr. Adam Walters. 

The third Symposium was spearheaded by composer Dr. Carlos Carrillo.The aim ofPuentes Caribeñoswas to strengthen bonds between composers, performers, artists, and scholars throughout the Caribbean and its diaspora, and with specialists from outside the region. The three-day event featured a mix of scholarly presentations and topical discussions as well as opportunities to hear performances of relevant musical works. Sessions included presentations of academic papers, talks by regional composers, and concerts. Performances included local traditional music from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and pieces recently composed for the concert hall.

UTT APA was represented in academic presentations by Music Faculty members Caitlyn Kamminga and Adam Walters. Caitlyn presented her paper Caribbean Connectionsin which she spoke about her work creating and producing original works on Trinidadian themes. In a composers' panel entitled Tradition, Identity and Influences: New Art Music in the CaribbeanAdam - one of the conference's four organisers - presented on his work writing locally relevant new music in Trinidad. Additionally, a new work by currentUTT APA Musicstudent Kristov Ramai was given its premiere by Camerata Caribe. Congratulations to Kristov!

Trinidadian composer Dominique Le Gendre was the keynote speaker at the Symposium. She spoke passionately about the need for continued investment in the Arts in the Caribbean and about her career as a composer living in London. 

Videosof selected performances from the conference can be found on the following youtube playlist:

Caitlyn Kamminga presents her work (with Dominique Le Gendre)

Adam Walters performed French horn with Bahamian ensemble C-Force

Dominique Le Gendre delivers the keynote speech

Composers' Panel: Christian Justilien, Adam Walters, Carlos Carillo, Dominique Le Gendre, Rudy Perrault

Adam Walters presents his work

Caitlyn and Dominique either side of the symposium's organising team!