By: Precious Mills
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 12th June 2020) — Management of the Alliance Française de St. Kitts-Nevis has been adjusting business operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including moving their French Singing Competition to an at-home online edition.
Director Marine Moncaut explained: “We were about to start the French Singing Competition before the COVID-19 hit us so we have closed the Alliance Française on the 18th of March to the public. About the competition, we didn’t organise much [initially] and in the Federation and the world with the COVID-19 situation, the social and cultural activities are very limited, especially for children and adolescents.”
A total of twenty-six submissions were received across three categories: 5 children (ages 4-10), 11 adolescents (10-17) and 10 adults (18+). The competition, launched on Wednesday 27th May, asked members of the public to choose a French song, record it at home and submit before Wednesday 10th June. A four-member jury will select 3 finalists per category, with the finale to take place on Wednesday 17th June via private Zoom.
Moncaut described the rationale: “This is a way to promote culture and education as something that could lift us up in these times of uncertainty, times of stress where the families can be stressed financially.”