Music Educators from across the region and the United States will take part in a welcome cocktail and opening ceremony sponsored by the Minister of Education and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and hosted by the Antigua and Barbuda Association of Music Educators ( ABAME) on Sunday at the Cortsland Hotel.

The cocktail will begin with a musical prelude by music teacher, Mr. Bernard Duplessis and Piesha Paul who is a blind student at the Antigua Girls High School, will play the National Anthem.

Welcome speeches will be given by Music Coordinator and ACME 2005 coordinator, Mrs. Marion Byron and the Ag. President of ACME- Petronella Deterville. There will also be remarks from Chief Education Officer (Ag.) Ms. Lenore Henry while Minister of Education Hon. Bertrand Joseph will declare the conference open.

Musical entertainment will also be present and that will be done by the String orchestra while Mr. Sylvannus Barnes will share some of his "musical poetry".

The conference expects about 25 overseas delegates along with the St. Lucian National Youth Choir ensemble and St. Luican String quartet.

The four-day conference gets on the way on August 21 and wraps up on the 24th.

For further information contact:

Jaquis Browne
Communications Officer
Ministry of Education
Tel: (268) 462-4959
Fax: (268) 462-4970
Cell: (268) 772-2163
Email: jacquis.browne@ab.gov.ag