The Gibraltar Magazine

Gibraltar’s Celebration of Song

This month sees the return of the Gibraltar Song Festival. Last year’s festival, the first after 32 years was welcomed with much enthusiasm both by local musicians and music lovers alike. With over 100 entrants competing from all over the world, Gibraltar was made proud by the top two positions of the final competition going to local singers Sandra and María Eugenia Moreno. Last year’s event was a big success, and so this formula is to be repeated, to entertain and enlighten our audiences with the talent that lays hidden within our local community and elsewhere in the world.

Joe Carseni, Chairman of the Gibraltar Song Festival committee has himself reaped the benefits from the Gibraltar Song Festival in the past. Although the festival first started in 1965, Joe took part in 1966 and went on to win that year’s competition, then won a further two times. Having realised his talent he went to England for a few years to pursue his career. Once there Joe found the night club circuit was not enough, and he once again decided to follow his music career and moved to New York.

Joe was to have a more successful time in New York where he met Harry Goodman, brother of the famous Benny Goodman. He introduced Joe to record producers and Joe was lucky enough to record for well-known lyricists Les Reed and Gibraltar’s own Albert Hammond.

Joe balanced his family life, his own freight forwarding business and his musical career until he retired a few years ago. He chose to come back to Gibraltar and on his return the first question he asked was “What happened to the Gibraltar Song Festival?” This spurred him on to revive the Festival after a 32 year hiatus, but little did he know it would be welcomed back with such enthusiasm.

Of last year’s show, he says it was “a world renowned event which serves to do three things; give an opportunity to new talent, help local charities and it will put Gibraltar on the map.” This year’s deadline for entries was 31st July, and so August was a busy period for the committee because this is when the selection of the 12 finalists was made.

On the night of the finale, 27th September 2008, the 12 contestants will perform at St Michael’s Cave. This year’s show will be produced by Lillian Montero, and we will see a representation of Gibraltar’s established talent provided by Nathan Payas. At the end of the night the top three winners will be announced. Each winner receives a trophy and a cash prize goes to the composers.

There will be five judges on the night of the competition, two from Gibraltar, two from Spain and one from England. A donation has been made by Iberia Airlines for three tickets for the three judges to travel from England and Spain to Gibraltar (the committee would like to thank them for their generosity).

All the judges are pioneers in the music industry themselves, and by having them at the competition Joe hopes to “inspire them with the local talent so that they record one song from one of the competitors.” The judges will be looking for perfection of production and quality of music, however contestants are able to perform in any language they choose.

With regards to helping local charities, last year’s production incurred high costs, but this year it is hoped to give away a lot more to charities. The Bonita Trust is willing to match the amount given to local charities by up to £10,000.

Tickets for the event will go on sale at the end of the first week in September at Music Corner, 114-116 Main Street. Tickets cost £25, and include a shuttle bus service to and from St. Michael’s Cave and a souvenir programme for the night.