Govt Provides Equipment For Drumline Academy | Bernews.com

Good Morning and Welcome,

It is often noted that our little Island home is blessed with much young talent that ought to be showcased on a national level as well as on the international stage. Every weekend, it seems we are awed by the talent and enthusiasm of your young performers in a variety of disciplines. And this is why the Ministry of Youth, Families and Sports is proud to support, wherever possible, organizations such as the Bermuda National Drumline Academy (NDA) that do much to promote the talents of young people. The NDA is working on expanding their programme into an internationally recognised Bermuda National Marching Band.

Since its establishment in 2006 the NDA has encouraged academic excellence, promoted good moral character and focused on the development of musicianship for young people. They have provided our middle and high school-aged students with the opportunity to learn the fundamental skills necessary to perform with a drumline and a full marching band.

We have watched the development of the NDA through its local performances that were enhanced no doubt by the participation of their members in local camps with international instructors and in band camps overseas. Their success is such that this year, they have restructured their organization to incorporate a full scale marching band.

As Minister of Youth, Families and Sports, I am pleased today to announce that we will be donating musical equipment to the NDA to further support the development of drumming. With us today is the NDA President, Mr. Dennis Parsons, whom we publicly thank for his continuing drive to create opportunities for our young students to express their talents, widen their horizons and yes, to flourish on national and world stages.

Many of you may already be aware that Mr. Parsons began the drumline programme while he was employed at the Hamilton Centre, a community centre that is run by the Department of Youth, Sports and Recreation. The programme quickly outgrew the small premises at the Hamilton Centre, and as it transformed into the Bermuda National Drumline Academy it moved into a new location at the Berkeley Institute.

Last year the Department of Youth, Sports and Recreation loaned some equipment to the Academy so it could continue to work with young people in Bermuda. This year the Department has chosen to provide additional equipment to further support the development of drumming through the NDA.

The NDA hopes to attract students island-wide that play instruments, and dance to participate. The goals set forth by the NDA for the Bermuda National Marching Band are to perform locally, compete in international competitions, march in widely televised parades (such as the Macy?s Day or Rose Bowl Parade), and be invited to perform at international venues.

I understand that the NDA will be holding auditions on Saturday October 20th 2012 at the Berkeley Institute for interested students, and in a moment I will invite Mr. Parsons to provide details about the ?October Band Camp? for students interested in learning customized drumming techniques, rudiments, back sticking, marching drills, dance formations, music reading, and marching styles for competition.

In closing, it would be remiss of me not to thank my colleague, the Hon. Dame Jennifer M. Smith, DBE, JP, DHumL, MP ? Minister of Education, for her continuing support of arts in education, and in particular the programmes offered by the NDA. Equally, I would like to extend thanks to the principal of the Berkeley Institute, Mrs. Michelle Simmons for supporting the partnership with the Berkeley Institute. Finally, I would also like to thank the Director of the Department of Youth, Sports and Recreation, Mr. Norbert Simons, for the support that he and his staff have provided to the drumline programme over the past several years.

Let me also take this opportunity to commend the volunteers and supporters of the NDA, an institution that I envision will continue to grow in stature and attract the best young talent in Bermuda. The synergy between the Berkeley Institute, the community and the Ministry of Youth, Families and Sports, supported by the Ministry of Education, reflects a unified effort to ensure that students are provided with opportunities to develop their inborn talents and aspirations.

Thank you.

Source: http://bernews.com/2012/10/govt-provides-equipment-for-drumline-academy/

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