Cayman Arts Festival 2025

THE AFRICAN SERIES concert
(Rebeca Omordia - piano, Leon Bosch - double bassist, Glen Inanga - piano, Richard Olatunde Baker - percussion)

Thursday, February 6th | 7pm
Harquail Theatre

Tickets Available Here
 

Described as "exhilarating brilliance and kaleidoscopic variety" by the Independent, the world's first ever African Concert Series has established itself as one of London's main concert platforms. The programme of the series is designed to take the audience on a musical journey across the African continent, reflecting the depth and diversity of African art music, the richly diverse genre of music which builds a bridge between Western classical music and African traditional music.

Programme:
African Pianism
The South African Double Bass
Spirituals

More information about The African Series can be found here.
More information about Rebeca Omordia can be found here.
More information about Leon Bosch can be found here.
More information about Richard Olatunde Baker can be found here.

Glen Inanga’s journey to becoming a multi-award-winning concert pianist started at home; his mother, who nurtured many other Nigerian classical musicians in their formative years, was his first teacher. Having a mother who was music teacher certainly helped in his development as a world-class musician, but it took numerous other educators along the way. As a teenager in Nigeria, it was another of his teachers, Frances Hutson, who initiated his going to summer music camp at the Luzerne Music Centre in Upstate New York, which changed the trajectory of his career. After graduating from Clare College, University of Cambridge, where he studied engineering, Glen attended the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied with acclaimed UK pianist Martin Roscoe. He has performed internationally as concert pianist soloist, as duo pianist with the Micallef-Inanga Duo and as well as a chamber musician collaborating in recordings with Grammy Award-winning artists, Eliesha Nelson and John McLaughlin Williams. In February 2004, Glen collaborated with Jennifer Micallef to launch the Cayman Arts Festival after they performed on Grand Cayman in 2001 and saw the demand – and need – for classical music and music education here. In 2007, Glen joined the faculty of the University of the Cayman Islands and was tasked with the development of a music programme. Now an assistant professor at UCCI, Glen is a driving force behind the development of performing arts at the university, helping educate and empower students and enrich the artistic fabric of the Cayman Islands.

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SACCONI QUARTET concert

Saturday, February 8th | 7pm
Harquail Theatre

Tickets Available Here
 
For over two decades, the Sacconi Quartet have been captivating audiences with their unanimous and compelling ensemble, consistently communicating with a fresh and imaginative approach. Formed in 2001, the four founder members share an unwavering passion for the string quartet repertoire, infectiously reaching out to audiences with their energy and enthusiasm. The Sacconis enjoy a busy international career, performing regularly across the world, at Europe’s major venues, in recordings and on radio broadcasts. The Sacconi is Quartet in Association at the Royal College of Music and Quartet in Residence for the town of Folkestone. Unchanged since its inception, Sacconi is Britain’s longest-established string quartet.

Programme:
Heartfelt by Roxana Panufnik
String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110 by Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet in F major by Maurice Ravel

More information about the Sacconi Quartet can be found here.

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CAYMAN YOUTH CHOIR & NEW YORK CABARET SINGERS concert

Sunday, February 9th | 7pm
Harquail Theatre

Tickets Available Here

A highlight of the 2025 Cayman Arts Festival is the exciting collaboration between the talented children of the Cayman Youth Choir and acclaimed Broadway performers from New York, including KT Sullivan, Natalie Douglas, Jon Weber, Arbender Robinson, and Carole J. Bufford. This unique fusion of local talent with Broadway stars promises an unforgettable experience for the audience, blending youthful energy with seasoned artistry. Some of these Broadway luminaries are no strangers to Cayman audiences, having delivered exceptional performances in the past, and their return is eagerly anticipated.

More information about KT Sullivan can be found here.

More information about Natalie Douglas can be found here.

More information about Jon Weber can be found here.

More information about Arbender Robinson can be found here.

More information about Carole J. Bufford can be found here.

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CAF YOUTH CAMERATA concert
with DEQUAN SMITH (cello) and IRINA MURESANU (violin)

Thursday, February 13th | 7pm
 

VENUE CHANGE ALERT:
Moved to John Gray High School Performance Hall

Tickets Available Here

This event shines a spotlight on the best student musicians in the CAF music education programme, as the CAF Youth Camerata performs at the Harquail Theatre. Featuring the most talented and dedicated young string, woodwind, percussion, and brass players, the orchestra is supported by some of their music teachers and tutors. Rehearsing for public performances and participating in concerts are pivotal in their growth as musicians. For the second consecutive year, the CAF Youth Camerata proudly takes the stage during the main festival, showcasing their hard work and talent.

Joining these exceptionally gifted students are esteemed violinist Irina Muresanu and Caymanian cellist Dequan Smith, adding their artistry to an unforgettable performance.

More information about Irina Muresanu can be found here.

Twenty-two year-old Dequan Smith started his cello playing career in 2016 at a Cayman Arts Festival Summer Camp when he was 13 years old and was immediately hooked on the cello. His musicianship developed quickly and in 2019, Dequan won the Cayman ‘Young Musician of the Year’ competition. That same year, he won a British Ministry of Education Music scholarship to Wells Cathedral School, one of five specialist music schools in the UK. At Wells, Dequan led the cello section of the school’s symphony orchestra and was awarded a distinction for his cello diploma. In March 2022, he represented the Cayman islands as a finalist in the ‘Young Musician of the Caribbean’ competition in the Dominican Republic.

Dequan has performed several times in Cayman. His concerts include a performance in 2022 at the Cayman Islands Baptist Church in Savannah, where he performed Brahms and Bruch with Korean pianist Sejin Yoon, as well as a concert in September 2023, when he performed with pianist Adam Heron at the John Gray Performance Hall playing works by Bach, Beethoven and Brahms.

The young Caymanian is currently a student at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where he is in his third year of a Cello Performance degree. At the Royal Conservatoire, he has performed in several orchestral and chamber concerts

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MARK DE-LISSER SINGERS & FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH CHOIR concert

Friday, February 14th | 7pm
First Baptist Church (920 Crewe Road)

Tickets Available Here

The 2025 Cayman Arts Festival brings a powerful gospel concert to the stage, uniting the world-renowned MDL Singers with the beloved First Baptist Church Choir for an evening of uplifting music and celebration. Founded and directed by the multi-talented Mark De-Lisser, the MDL Singers (formerly ACM Gospel Choir) are a multi-award-winning ensemble, renowned for their high-energy performances and collaborations with music legends. Their accolades include supporting Natasha Bedingfield at the British Summertime Ball 2024, backing Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Take That at the King’s Coronation Concert in 2023, and sharing the stage with Alicia Keys, Andrea Bocelli, and Diana Ross at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee concert in 2022. With three studio albums and an impressive list of high-profile performances, the MDL Singers continue to set the standard for gospel excellence.

More information about Mark De-Lisser can be found here.

Complementing their dynamic presence, the First Baptist Church Choir, led by Pastor Dave Jorge, showcases the rich musical heritage of the Cayman Islands. Known for their moving performances during Easter and Christmas, this accomplished group has long been a cornerstone of the local community. Their annual "Festival of Christmas Praise," "Festival of Easter Glory," and Spring Concert Tour highlight their dedication to bringing people together through music and worship. This extraordinary collaboration promises to be an unforgettable evening, blending international flair with heartfelt local talent. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a powerful fusion of faith, love, and music at this special event!

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BENEIL MILLER & HIS REGGAE ORCHESTRA concert

Saturday, February 15th | 7pm
Harquail Theatre

Tickets Available Here

Blending the smooth rhythms of reggae with the improvisational flair of jazz, Beneil Miller & His Reggae Orchestra captivates audiences, evoking the feeling of swaying in a hammock on a warm, breezy day. A singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist skilled in piano, bass, drums, and guitar, Miller describes his music as a “fusion of genres,” seamlessly fitting into formats from roots reggae and modern Caribbean to pop, jazz, and the smooth sounds of Yacht Rock Radio. Born in Jamaica and raised in the Cayman Islands, Miller has been a staple of Cayman Arts Festival events, including the 2023 “Cayman Hot Jazz Night” with Jon Weber, a fellow 2025 festival performer. For this event, he will perform tracks from his new E.P. as well as other original pieces.