Music educational programme in Antigua this July.

Hello! My name is Lily Hesper-Dugdale and I am a clarinettist studying for my Bachelor of Music at the Royal College of Music (RCM). In partnership with the High Commissioner of Antigua and Barbuda and The Commonwealth Resounds, I have been invited back to the beautiful island of Antigua this July 2025 for the second edition of the “Go Compose, Eastern Caribbean” programme. This initiative will see me teaching and mentoring young musicians and composers from Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat, and St Kitts and Nevis, and then performing works written by the young people at the finale concert.

The 2025 trip follows the success of the initial visit in 2024 where we worked with young musicians from the Antigua and Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra and those from surrounding islands as part of the pilot composition programme, which culminated in a concert in Antigua’s English Harbour and was attended by His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams, High Commissioners Their Excellencies Karen-Mae Hill and John Hamilton MBE, along with many proud parents.

While myself and the other RCM musicians involved have received invaluable financial support from the RCM, I still need further aid to get me to Antigua this year, and would be deeply grateful for any support. Thank you very much!