Official Announcement - New Musical Appointments of The Lydians

The Lydian Singers is pleased to announce the selection and appointment of Ms. Lorraine Granderson as the group's new Musical Director. Mr. Carl-Anthony Hines was appointed to support her in the role of Assistant Musical Director.

The Lydian Singers choir was started in 1979 by Bishop Anstey High School Music Teacher Joyce Spence and comprised mostly past pupils of the school and other members. In 1984 Miss Alma Pierre took direction of the choir and then in 1987 Pat Bishop D.Litt Hon. agreed to take up the baton, and was musical director until her sudden death in 2011.

 Ms. Bishop’s defining influence guided the Lydians over twenty-four years of music and performance. Since her passing, the management of the choir, in addition to coping with her loss, placed as a priority the search for a person to take up the challenge of leading the Lydian Singers into a new musical future.

No stranger to The Lydians, Lorraine Granderson has over 30 years' experience conducting, teaching and working with choirs, steelbands and in independent musical productions in Trinidad and Tobago. She has been invited to guest conduct with the Lydians on several occasions and has also been the musical director for major production companies such as the JCS Entertainment musical theatre production company.

 Ms. Granderson was introduced to the choir at a special rehearsal on Monday 3^rd July 2017 at which she addressed the group and thanked the Lydians for the opportunity.

"It is a honour. It is certainly going to be a huge challenge and responsibility. I hope that together we can continue to make beautiful music and to be of service to our country by providing beautiful music."

Carl-Anthony Hines is a young composer, music tutor, tenor vocalist and music student currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music at the University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine Campus.

Over the past eight years, Hines has composed over thirteen original commissioned pieces of music along with several scored arrangements. Since 2014, Hines has been an active member of the Lydians and from 2016 took charge of the choir as Guest Conductor and Rehearsal Master on a full-time, volunteer basis.

Born and raised in Jamaica, Hines has pursued several musical endeavours from 2008 to the present including being the Vice President of the University Chorale of the UWI, Mona Jamaica, Composer in Residence at the Jamaica Youth Chorale and a member of the Diocesan Festival Choir, 'Vocez' Vocal Chamber Ensemble, The University Singers, the Brandenburg Singers, The Jamaica National Festival Choir and The UWI Arts Chorale.

About The Lydians

The Lydian Singers organization is one of the premier musical groups in Trinidad and Tobago comprising singers, steelpan players, African and Tassa drummers and treasured creative collaborators. The choir has made history and established a global brand for Trinidad and Tobago as one of the few musical organizations in the English-speaking Caribbean to attempt interpretations of major opera, oratorio and requiem works over the years. The choir has also shown prowess at the T&T Music Festival winning over thirty (30) championship trophies over the years and has also achieved one of the nation’s most prestigious awards – The Hummingbird Medal – Gold in 1991 for loyal and devoted service in the sphere of singing. Pat Bishop led the group in many pioneering musical projects until her sudden death in August 2011. In taking over governance of The Lydians in 2016, the organization's newly-elected Board of Directors and Management Team continue to guide the group into an even more uplifting future, with the God-given gift of music and in service to the people of Trinidad and Tobago.