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MUSICAL maestro and dramatic arts impresario Lydia Martin is moving in a new artistic direction and is hoping to inspire future generations of performers in Bahrain.
The former director of performing arts at the British School of Bahrain has set up The Inspire Arts Centre located on Highway 54, off Budaiya Highway.
Lydia, a former St Christopher’s School teacher and co-creator of Sar Music Centre (SMC) which crashed after suffering vast financial losses following the unrest in Bahrain, is confident her new venture will strike a chord with the community.
She said: “I have always loved inspiring people, especially children so now I’ve decided that this is my mission in life in more ways than one.”
Inspire Bahrain is a community-based project, she says, offering opportunities in all the arts through its new centre and a planned festival next month.
The centre will offer music and drama tuition as well as activities for mums and babies, toddlers, students and adults wishing to be ‘inspired by enthusiastic and well-trained international musicians, dramatists, poets and artists’.
She explained: “We can coach you in public speaking and theatre skills, musical performance or just provide you with a positive experience in the arts that will inspire you to reach new heights both personally, musically, theatrically or professionally.
“We offer singing and general voice coaching. We have choirs and workshops for all ages including Little Voices, Inspire Kidz Choir, Inspire Youth Choir and Inspire Community Choir, which is free for adults.”
The arts festival from October 10 – 18 will include an art exhibition, workshops by visiting artist Duncan Stewart, a choral celebration involving various different choirs, a family supper and barn dance, children’s and youth workshops, seminars and other events.
Artists will be invited to submit works for the event which can take the form of fine art, sculpture, poetry and multi-media.
Director Lydia will be joined by Filipino musician Lloyd Amolong, who is a specialist in guitar and drums and renowned for arranging music for young bands in the venture.
But why move from a blossoming BSB arts academy, which also offered a stage for her brainchild, Music And Stage for Kids (MASK)? She explained: “Yes, it is very successful and I’m sure it will continue to be so. I wish them all the best and am here to help should they need or require it.
“Why did I leave? Well, it was just time to move on really, and I’m very excited to be working in the community again.
“As for MASK, I will be running productions as it is a brand that is associated with me rather than any particular organisation, having been in association previously with SMC as well as the BSB, it will now be associated with Inspire.
“Of course, if anyone wishes to use this name I have no legal claim to it as it is just an unofficial brand, however, it is strongly associated with the productions which I have been involved with for the past five years such as Oliver!, Wizard of Oz, Bugsy Malone, Annie, Circle of Life, West Side Story and the epic Peter Pan of this previous academic year. Watch this space for the announcement of our next production!”
She insists Inspire Bahrain will be a different proposition to her former ventures. “SMC was a full-scale music teaching organisation with around 12 teachers and three auxiliary staff.
“Inspire is a small much more community-based organisation and I am the only full-time member of staff and we will be focusing on providing exciting drama and music opportunities rather than classes; per se.
“The problem with a music centre of any kind is that it mainly provides individual lessons which do not generate much revenue and there has to be a ceiling on fees.
“What SMC and the Academy of Performing Arts taught me is that the only way to ensure profitability, is to provide group lessons at an affordable price.
“Thanks to BSB I was also able to take on much more drama teaching and programme development through the APA LAMDA programme than I had done previously which was a great opportunity for me as I love coaching drama.”
Inspire Bahrain now offers places for up to 16 students in its LAMDA drama activities and its choirs aim to have between 10 and 25 depending on the age range. The Kidz Choir for seven to 12-year-olds is already proving the most popular activity by far.
It also boasts a Youth Choir which is open to students up to 18, plus the adult Inspire Community Choir which is free of charge to any budding singer, whatever age or experience. For mums, babies and toddler activities class sizes are limited to 12.
The mother of three-year-old, Xavier, added: “I will also be offering voice coaching, fun community workshops and events and corporate team building using rhythm and drumming alongside theatre skills to enhance individual and team performance and cohesion in the workplace.”
Course prices vary. Email inspirebahrain@gmail.com for more information or call 39047734.
