During a press conference Carmen Heredia de Guerrero, the Dominican Minister of Culture, attended by the Ambassador of Haiti, Smith Augustin, among others, declared "For the Ministry of Culture, it is an honor of have the support of the European Union and the Symphony Foundation, to promote the talent and creativity of young lyrical music enthusiasts. The fact that I received 116 applications for the first edition of this Caribbean Lyric Festival fills me with pride and satisfaction."

Minister Heredia clarified about the finalists "The young people selected will have the opportunity to exhibit their great talent during a closing concert to be held on May 9, 2021 in the Carlos Piantini room of the Eduardo Brito National Theater, accompanied by the National Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Dominican Republic, conducted by Maestro Darwin Aquino [...]"

Selected group (finalists) :

Sopranos :

Valérie Brutus (Haiti), Natalia Dopwell (Trinidad and Tobago), Marie-Laure Garnier (French Guyana)

Mezzo-soprano :

Celia Sotomayor (Puerto Rico)

Countertenor :

Frank Ledesma (Cuba)

Tenors :

José Heredia (Dominican Republic) and Héctor Rodríguez (Cuba)

Baritone-bass :

Joé Bertili (Guadeloupe).

See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-33182-icihaiti-culture-12-haitian-opera-singers-in-competition-at-the-caribbean-lyric-festival-2021.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-32905-icihaiti-rep-dom-caribbean-lyrical-festival-registration-open-for-young-talents.html

IH/ iciHaiti