The Cari-Folk Singers is today one of the Caribbean region's leading performing choirs. The group, which boasts a repertoire of more than 400 Caribbean songs, is renowned in Jamaica and the Caribbean for its dynamic presentation of the region's folk music, in a fashion that encompasses excellent choral music, emotive theatrical movements and expressions along with elegant costuming to complete the picture.

It is unusual to discover teenagers, especially those from Kingston, who are so interested in the folk music that they decide to dedicate their lives to seeing to its preservation and dissemination. Such was the beginning of 2002 Silver Musgrave medallist, Carifolk Singers.
Excelsior High School was the inspiration ground for what was known then as the Bedlam Singers, and today, twenty-nine years later, three of its earliest members, namely, Alwyn Dunn and Patricia Newland Musical director Kathryn Bond-Dyke are still fully involved with the group.
In 1995, the Honourable R. Danny Williams, in a programme message said: "The Carifolk Singers represent(s) so much of what is good in our country and our people."
He must have seen resilience and determination, creativity and camaraderie as well as the constant quest for perfection, all hallmarks of the group. The gold medal award, which the group received for its participation in the inaugural Choir Olympics held in Linz, Austria in the year 2000, attests to this.
For thirty years this group has thrilled audiences in Cuba, Guantanamo Bay, Cayman, Panama, Mexico, the United States of America, England and Austria. On the local scene, the Carifolk Singers has performed extensively at hotels, in schools, and churches, at weddings, receptions, funerals, and special and major national events. In fact, the group is noted for providing total theatre, revealed through music and singing, dancing/movements, an assortment of folk forms - Kumina, Bruckins, Dinki-Mini, Revival and Mento among others.
Although its concert season commences in October each year, in May 2002, the Carifolk Singers embarked on its first major collaborative activity, dubbed Culturefest. Wonderful support was received from the likes of Maurice Gordon and his Team, Bello and Blacka, Amina Blackwood-Meeks and the Tony Wilson Dancers.
Carifolk has also shared the stage with world-renowned personalities such as Ernie Ranglin and Willard White.
Kathryn Bond-Dyke, musical arranger and director, continues to be the tower of strength around which the group revolves. Esteemed musicians, Astley 'Grub' Cooper and Godfrey Taylor, as 'Friends of Carifolk', are among those who have also given invaluable support to the group in recent years.
Fitness and stamina are as integral to the Carifolk Singers as singing. Fortunately, the group boasts professional sports personalities such Roy G. Thomas, senior physical education lecturer, track and field and football coach as well as sports. He is responsible for 'breathing fitness' into the group. It boasts, as well, a professional make-up artist - Marilyn Brown.
With a contingent of twenty-six performers, all full-time professionals - teachers, managers, accountants etc., it is incredible that each person continues to make time to enlighten, entertain and keep folk music alive amidst the lure of cable television, the sound system, various computer games and other modern attractions. They are truly agents of culture.

The Committee 2003
Velva Lawrence - Leader
Kathryn Bond-Dyke - Musical Arranger and Director
Dahlia Reid-Thomas - Secretary
Noel George Campbell - Treasurer
Patricia Newland - Movements Director
Carol Miller - Choreographer

Public Relations Team

Erica Brown
Marilyn Brown
Carol Miller