About
The Bahamas National Youth Choir Alumni
The Bahamas National Youth Choir Alumni is a group of former members of The Bahamas National Youth Choir. The Choir was founded in 1983 with the aim of providing an opportunity for young Bahamians to nurture their passion for music and performance. The alumni continues to support the choir's goals and objectives, while also providing a platform for networking, mentorship and continuing education. They have performed in many prestigious events and venues around the world, showcasing their remarkable talents and musical prowess.
How it all started
Circa 1983, a man with a piano and a pitch pipe, slim fit stone washed jeans, Beethoven like skills, rich culture and patriotism like no other, wild humor, crazy faith and a temper as a long a capri sun drinking straw decided to work with the youth of The Bahamas fostering the language of music. We all survived (barely) lol. Cleophas Adderley brought the dreamers to life in all of us. Every rehearsal, every performance, every trip, he challenged us to be better, greater, stronger, dare I say "rangier". He was the blueprint. This giant of a man took a choir of less than 20 young vibrant singers and created a movement to last 40 years and counting. He will forever be the human form comparison to the beauty and the complexity that is Liszt - La Campanella, simply extraordinary, challenging, complex, intentional, beautiful but most importantly memorable.
Cheers to the future
Dexter Fernander, a trained pianist, former choir member and a part of the BNYC alumni understands first-hand what a day in the life of a conductor, choir director, mentor, and most amiable adult in the room of raging hormonal kids look like. He has had big shoes to fill, but instead of filling the ones of our dear "Opee", it was fitting that he fill his own. Dexter has been a force in his own right over the years. Keeping the legacy alive is no easy fete, yet, he makes it look effortless, like a quick run of swan lake. Garnering the support for funding, organizing annual trips, keeping the songbirds in check and of course ensuring that every performance is "pitch perfect", Dexter is owed his flowers now. We salute you and support you. Keep filling your own shoes. Hopefully a future someone else can learn of what you do and make you as proud as you have made us.
OUR "OPEE"
A LETTER TO OUR BELOVED OPEE
with love
There's so much to say but words can't justify the depth of feelings we have for you. Opee, you have been more than you can imagine to us. The memories we have of you live on daily. You have no idea how much you have shaped our lives and brought us so much joy. We remember your bountiful laugh, your random sarcasm, your insane focus, your ability to navigate keys, chords, and voices and STILL be able to find the person singing off key. You were one of one. Your determination to show the world that talent was supreme in The Bahamas kept us elevating higher and higher.
Every Wednesday night and Saturday morning was a journey with you. Before rehearsals you prepared, you were disciplined, you allowed us our moment, but when the piano struck its first key, we knew immediately, it was time to focus and radiate perfection, harmony and melody and get it right. Your smile when we got it right was everything. The deep sighs of relief we held internally made us feel like superstars. OH, but those moments we got it wrong.... we're just happy to laugh about it now, decades later. No one dare challenge Opee and his clear ear and pitch pipe. You always found the weakest link. The urge to run out the room escaped us every time because you were so quick to jump to the very section with your ear pressed to our breathes waiting to say to the culprit you caught "ITS YOUUUUU". Gosh the fear of being off key was worse than a belt beating at home, HAHA! Til this day we still laugh about first sopranos going through it, because they were the closest to the piano, to you the sopranos were always being challenged as sharp only because you knew there was more in the tank. The Bass and Tenor section arrogantly filled with confidence and familiarity felt like they were your favorites, so they never thought they were off key. The rebuttals were endless and hilarious with the "grown man" crew; oh, and the perfect Alto's never a miss, the proverbial golden children sounding like smooth voiced angels and educators how could they ever be off? LOL.
As a man who kept a simple wardrobe at rehearsals, you stunned when we performed. The sharpest director in the room in your tailored penguins, you required nothing less of us with our uniforms and overall presentation. We were never allowed to be undone or unkept. You taught us pride in our appearance, inspecting us to the T. No hair strands out of place, the right ruby red lipstick, subtle spritz of body spray, uniforms casket stiff, we were representations of you and so we showed up and showed out at every performance. Before every curtain call, we had a pep talk and a dry run to ensure we were all stage ready. You made us laugh and you gave us "the look" with your big doe eyed readiness behind your specs, and then told us to smile with your smile and this we did.
When all was said and done, we basked in the joy of not knowing what was coming next, but we welcomed whatever you brought. You kept us on our toes, you inspired us, you kept us grounded, never growing ego but exuding confidence. We miss you so. But we know you are with us.
Play on, laugh loud, walk high and keep us "celebrated" by your memory. Forty years of heart and passion will be etched in your headstone with love. This we promise.
-Your Songbirds