Earlier this month local students of the performing arts at tertiary level were given the opportunity to apply for the Neil Latchman Bursary for Voice 2014. Internationally renowned T&T-born tenor Latchman returned home to perform during the celebration of this country's 50th anniversary of independence. The $5,000 bursary is granted on the basis of financial need and offered to promising and outstanding students in pursuit of vocal (singing) studies at tertiary level. It is also one of the initiatives of the Patrons of Queen’s Hall’s Development Programme. Applicants must be between 18 and 28.
Patrons of Queen's Hall CEO and administrator Terri Roxborough says the bursary was offered for the first time this year and will be offered every year on or near its anniversary date in the month of June. Out of three students who applied, Daniel de Cranie-Pierre, was awarded the bursary. "The quality standard of the applicants was very high. Daniel de Cranie-Pierre, at age 21, is very professional in his approach to his singing studies. He exudes a lot of positive energy and has a beautiful, rich baritone voice. Daniel was very convincing in his performance," Roxborough said.
The finals of the bursary auditions took place in the Queen's Hall lobby on June 2. De Cranie-Pierre is studying voice at State University of New York (Suny) at Plattsburgh. "As a student studying abroad, every little bit counts. So I took a leap of faith," he said. For the audition, de Cranie-Pierre performed the passionate piece Von Ewiger Liebe (Of Eternal Love) by Brahms.
A choir member at the Sixth Form Government School, he went on to compete in the SanFest competition as a soloist. After being introduced to noted vocal coach June Nathaniel, he trained for five months before competing in the 2012 Music Festival, going on to win the categories boys’ vocal solo (16-19) and religious contemporary solo (16-19).
"All this led to me applying for the State University of New York at Plattsburgh where I had an amazing first year of study experiencing growth I only thought possible in my dreams." To continue to raise funds to support his studies, de Cranie-Pierre plans a series of concerts both in his home town of Sangre Grande on July 13 at St James the Just Anglican Church and later on in Port-of-Spain on a date yet to be finalised.