I would like to thank the Bainbridge Arts and Humanities Council for bestowing on me the title of “Island Treasure” in the arts for 2009. I am deeply honored, gratified and more than a little taken aback. Thanks also to The Review for an excellent article. I would like to clarify a couple of things therein that I made less than clear dluring the interview.

The first item is the 16th century music publication cited: it was common at that time to publish part music with four parts to a page; each is printed facing outwards, so the page could be laid on a table and four (or more) musicians could read from different directions. The point, captured in the article, was the importance of communal music-making as a common social activity.

I would also like to clarify the nature of the West End Caribbean Ensemble Workshop. It is a community rehearsal-format band meeting once a week (Sundays at 4 p.m.) at Village Music to play through, and become familiar with Cuban and Caribbean music styles. We also venture into Brazilian forms. We welcome all ages/abilities (subject to mild audition standards). We encourage all melody and rhythm-section instruments and singers to come out and have a listen..

Alan Simcoe

Lynwood Center