events
Going for a Song at the Gibraltar Song Festival by Sonia Golt
Joe Carseni’s memories of winning the Gibraltar Song Festival with Hoy Como Ayer stuck with him through 30 years living in the US — he always wanted to revive the Festival and that’s why it is back on our annual calendar of events and coming up on 13th March this year. The Festival began in 1965 when Monsignor Charles Caruana, a young priest in those days, had the idea if a Song Festival to raise money to build a Community Centre. Back then the Song Festival was only open to local talent but since Joe Carseni, in fact a winner of three Song Festivals, took it upon himself to revive it in 2007, it has become an international festival of song. Songwriters worldwide are invited to submit entries for the Gibraltar Song Festival. “I am continuing the whole affair because Gibraltar has many talented musicians and I want to continue to give them a stage on which to show their musical talent,” Joe explains his motivation for bringing the Festival back to life. “One must never forget our very own Albert Hammond and how well he has done in the composer/singer league worldwide... Who knows, there might be another here ready to continue in his footsteps. “The 1st Song Festival went very well and it was very successful. We donated a substantial sum towards the Senior Citizens’ Panic Buttons and Bonita Trust matched our donation, so we were able to give in total £2000,” Joe explains. “This year’s donation will go to the Alzheimer’s Group of Gibraltar as we want to help them and prople who suffer from this illness. “Unfortunately in 2009 we had to postpone the festival as, due to the world crisis, it was not an appropriate time to find sponsors but earlier than predicted we are ready to go for this coming March 13th when we will put the show on again,” he says, adding that “as guest
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artists we are negotiating with the Gypsy Kings but nothing for sure yet...” That would certainly be a great attraction for the audience, but what of the entries? How does the Festival go about attracting these? “We already have entries from UK, Gibraltar, Spain, Chile, Brazil, Malta, Cyprus, Canary Island and a few others. So we know we will get enough entries to be able to choose the very best! “Promotion is done via our website www. gibraltarsongfestival.com and we have patrons who support our event; Les Reed who composed many hits for Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck like Delilah, It’s not unusual the Last Waltz etc,” Joe enthuses. “We also have connections with Guy Fletcher composer for
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It’s also a way of letting the world see what they are capable of as we will be going live via Radio 700 based in Germany, both audio and visual, with an estimated audience of about 10 million worldwide
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Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Bary Mason as well as being lyricist for Tom Jones, Engelbert and many others.” The Pillars of Hercules trophies and prize money on offer make it well worth any songwriter to get out their pens and compose something original. The winner gets £3000, £1000 goes to the first runner up and £500 to the second runner up. “It’s also a way of letting the world see what they are capable of as we will be going live via Radio 700 based in Germany, both audio and visual, with an estimated audience of about 10 million worldwide,” says Joe. Joe is Chairman of the Festival’s Board of Directors which is a dedicated team comprising John Jones (Secretary), John Dawes (Director), Gareth Jones (Technical Support), Gerald Rodriguez (Producer) and Sound by Planet Project James Gomez. Between them they have revived the Gibraltar Song Festival fulfilling Joe’s dream and the dream of many a composer both locally and abroad. Joe, who lived in New York for three decades and now uses both New York and Gibraltar as his bases during the year, is now fully retired and ready to give the Gibraltar Song Festival his all yet again. We wish him all the best for the 2010 edition. n The Gibraltar Song Festival will be staged at the Victoria Stadium Tercentenary Hall. Tickets will soon be on sale at Music Corner, Main Street, at £10, £15 and £20. Visit www.gibraltarsongfestival.com for more information.
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • FEBRUARY 2010