The Festival Management Committee (FMC) today announced that Scotiabank Caribana will receive immediate extra financial help from Scotiabank. This one-time funding will be used to support Festival performers.
“The Festival Management Committee is very appreciative of this cash infusion by our lead sponsor,” said Joe Halstead, the Chair of the festival. “While we are grateful for this additional funding support, this year’s Festival still has a considerable gap to close over the next two weeks.”
“On behalf of the all the Carnival performers we want to say thank-you to Scotiabank,” said Louis Saldenah, the president of the Toronto Mas Band Association. “It will help participants defray some their costs while showcasing Scotiabank’s contribution on the parade route.”
Yeah, so i guess I need to be shouting out Scotiabank a little more. I happen to like them, they have held our mortgage for the past 7 years or so, and we have stuck with them partly because of their choice to support our community festival (their rates were competitive also)
So, there are a couple of events happening this week:
The scotiabank Caribana Gala and after party, and the Calypso Monarch Competition
This is Friday night and its taking place at the Liberty Grand Complex (Toronto’s CNE grounds). It will host a dinner experience for over 600 guests featuring the melodious sounds and culinary splendor of the Carnival through music, costumes (worn by members of the Xpats and Fantasia Mas Bands), magnificent dinner program, silent auction and even livelier performances.
Scheduled to appear both at the Gala and at the new After Gala party will be Trinidad & Tobago’s Silver Stars Steel Orchestra – the world’s best steel drum band. Silver Stars are the only steelband to win “Band of the Year” for its Trinidad & Tobago Mas presentation. Musically, they have also won many other competitions; most recently the title of 2009 and 2010 Trinidad & Tobago Panorama Champions.
One of Canada’s best steelpan orchestras, Afropan Steelband will also perform at the Gala, as will as Salmon Cupid; the inventor of the computerized E-Pan. Also scheduled to appear will be the African Rhythm Society (featuring Gasmine Pierre), young singers Carissa Baron and Rachel Lloyd, the 2009 Canadian Calypso Monarch Michael Thomas aka “Redman,” and one of Canada’s fastest, rising Calypsonian singers, 13-year old, Rashida. Ossie Gurley & de Relatives will be appearing during the After Party along with one of Toronto’s best Caribbean deejay – DJ Soca Vibes.
Tickets are now available for the third annual Scotiabank Caribana Gala and the new After Gala Party. The Gala will be held July 23rd, 2010 at the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex on the grounds of the CNE in Toronto. Doors open at 5.30 pm and the sit-down dinner begins at 7.30 pm. Dress for the party is Formal. Tickets - $160 / Table -$1,600 (includes the After Party). The After-Party begins at 9.30 and runs to 2 am. Tickets for After Gala Party are $40 (if not attending the Gala).
The Calypso Monarch competition will be on Saturday
● Calypso Monarch Finals
Saturday, July 24th 7:30pm
Ontario Science Centre, 770 Don Mills Rd.
Adv $35.00 Door $40.00
Tickets can be purchased on www.ticketgateway.com
<http://www.ticketgateway.com/>
Canada's top nine calypso singers vie for the title of Calypso Monarch and over $15,000. in prizes. Eight finalists will be chosen at a Preliminary judging round - the final weekend performances of the Calypso Tents Music Series on Saturday, July 3rd, 8pm (The Professionals) and Sunday, July 4th, 4pm (Kaiso Forum).
The eight singers with the highest points join last year's monarch Redman for an exciting evening of calypso at Ontario Science Centre on Saturday, July 24th. The nine finalists perform two newly-composed calypsos before a panel of judges. Each song was awarded points out of a maximum of 100 points divided into five (5) categories as follows:
Lyrics - 35
Melody - 20
Vocal Rendition - 25
Presentation - 10
Originality - 10
Cash prizes and gifts are awarded to the four (4) singers with the highest score out of a total of 200 points. In addition, there are the following special awards categories: Arrangement, Local Content, Humor, Background Vocals, and New Artiste.
The Calypso Monarch Competition attracts singers from across the GTA and beyond and has been held annually in Toronto for the past 28 years. The 2009 first prize winner Redman sang "Black Hen Chicken" and "No Picong". Redman was recently featured in the 2010 Georgia Caribbean Carnival in Atlanta, USA. He will be a special guest at the Notting Hill Carnival later this year in London, UK.
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