Guest Speaker - Kenneth Listhrop

 

Our guest speaker last Tuesday was Mr. Kenneth Listhrop, founder, visionary, teacher, accompanist, arranger, conductor, music director, friend and mentor for the T&T National Youth Philharmonic Orchestra for 15 years.  He used the Venezuelan model, developed by Dr. Abreo, which espouses "music for the benefit and blessing of humanity".  They have over 130 instruments which are loaned to low and middle class children, and passed on to others when no longer needed.  The orchestra practices twice weekly with rehearsals on Saturdays and this requires discipline and dedication.  The older children teach the younger ones which requires commitment and passion.  He gave us several touching examples of how this programme has changed their lives. 

 

Mr. Listhrop thanked the Rotary Club of Maraval for the donation of the musical instruments left over from our own Empowerment Through Music programme which was also inspired by Dr. Abreo from Venezuela over 20 years ago.  They will be touching lives for generations to come.  The instruments comprised:

  1  keyboard

 24 violins

  2 saxophones

  2 flutes

  3 cellos

  2 clarinets

  1 double bass

  1 single bass

 20 recorders

  6 folding music stands