This program for young guitarists, proposes to train a thirty young Haitian to the classical guitar, a tribute to the Haitian guitarist Frantz Casséus (1915-1993), was made possible through the collaboration of Haitiana Music Company, Caracoli and the Holy Trinity School of Music (Ecole de Musique Sainte Trinité) at the initiative of guitarist Marc Ribot.

Marc Ribot is a musician of international renown, very active on the New York scene and known for his virtuosity and eclecticism. In thirty-year career, he produced 19 albums to his name (including an album devoted to the works of the Haitian guitarist Frantz Casséus) and accompanied by countless musicians featured in different registers, such as Tom Waits, Marianne Faithful, Caetano Veloso and Alain Bashung.

In memory of Casséus Frantz, who had been his professor of classical guitar, Marc Ribot wanted to create a program in Haiti for the Haitian young guitarists, through the non-profit company, Haitian Music, which supports the efforts of disclosure of the music of Franz Casséus and, more generally, of preservation of musical heritage linked to the Haitian classical guitar, in Haiti and around the world.

The program Frantz Casséus for young guitarists is intended to support the teaching of the classical guitar for young Haitians and keeping alive the memory of Franz Casséus. For 3 years, the program will support 30 children in the learning of the classical guitar, children from Holy Trinity Primary School and children from public schools of the city.

The inauguration of "Frantz Casséus program" will be held this Friday, January 13, 2012 at 11:30 am at the Holy Trinity Music School [back yard of Holy Trinity Cathedral], 103 angle rues Pavée and Mgr. Guilloux (Port-au-Prince).

Learn more about Frantz Casséus :

Regarded as the father of Haitian classical guitar, which he disclosed the directory on the international scene, Frantz Casséus as born in Port-au-Prince in 1915. He learned the guitar by himself, then adapts the various voodoo rhythms for the guitar. After playing in Haiti and Latin America in 1941, he made his debut in New York in 1951 : he would have been the first black artist to play the classical guitar at Carnegie Hall in 1956. He is also known to have accompanied Harry Belafonte or some years, and for having composed the song 'Mèsi Bondye' for him which has been the subject of many 'remake'. He died in the United States in June 1993.

HL/ HaitiLibre