QED (Quite Exquisitely Done) is hosting its third instalment of the annual Christmas charity concert, One Night In December (ONID) on December 16, at 4 pm. All music lovers are invited to come enjoy a music-filled evening with Raymond Edwards, Edward Cumberbatch and Nigel Floyd at the beautiful Undercover Garden Centre in Santa Cruz.
This trio is actually T&T’s finest tenors who have joined together to prove that good music can be Quite Exquisitely Done. The group’s individual members have made a name for themselves as solo artistes but have decided to come together to make an even more beautiful sound.
Edwards is one of our well known voices and for the last 20 years has had an undying love affair with music.
He began singing in 1993 under the tutelage of the late classical tenor/teacher Chesterton Ali. Under his guidance, Edwards blossomed to become a multiple music festival winner and has captured coveted awards such as the most outstanding vocalist, most outstanding tenor and male vocal champion. He has also had the opportunity to perform with the international cast of Porgy and Bess, and Venezuelan flamenco performers Flamenco Solo Flamenco. In 2006 Edwards released his debut solo album—Ray of Hope—which is in heavy rotation on local airwaves at Christmas time.
Away from the stage Edwards has been involved in media for almost 20 years serving in both state media and the private sector. Not being limited to the entertainment and media industries, academically Edwards holds a bachelors degree in Government with a minor in International Relations and a Certificate in Public Administration.
His media reach has extended to overseas with him performing freelance work for the British Broadcasting Corporation, and special features for CBC and the Independent newspaper in the United Kingdom.
Edwards founded Edwards Media Services in 2015 and provides media consultancy and studio services with a focus on audio projects. The company services clients in the Caribbean, the US, the UK, Italy, India and China.
Fondly known as “Eddie” to his close friends and family, Cumberbatch is just one of the talented tenors of Q-E-D. His preferred musical genres range from performing opera, art songs, oratorio, negro spirituals and gospel music.
His introduction to music and singing began with piano and theory lessons from his mother, Theodosia Cumberbatch. Other beloved music teachers included Majorie Padmore (recorder), Tim Shelton (trumpet), Geraldine Connor with Laura Franklyn, Gillian Nathaniel-Balintulo and Michael Steele (voice, choir and recorder) at Queen’s Royal College. It was under the wing of Barbara Douglas at Anderson University, Indiana, USA that Cumberbatch fell more in love with music and made voice his primary instrument. This love led him to become a long standing member and soloist of the well-known group the Lydian Singers.
He benefitted greatly under the directorship of Dr Pat Bishop, TC and his experience with the Lydian Singers has been invaluable to him as he further progressed to perform as a tenor soloist in many choral works and tenor roles in several operas.
As a musical festival champion, Cumberbatch has earned several trophies as a result of his magnificent talent. These accolades include outstanding tenor, vocalist and performer of the festival. His talent has also been showcased beyond our shores with him performing in the Caribbean islands, United States, Canada, Germany and South Africa.
Cumberbatch has degrees in physics with mathematics and Solar Energy and is currently an instructor of mathematics at UTT.
Reflecting on his talent, Cumberbatch refers to it as a divine gift from God and is thankful for the grace to share it with the world.
The third link in the Q-E-D chain Nigel Floyd provides stable, solid, sound advice to his singing brothers along with his great voice. He started his singing career under the guidance and tutelage of the late Holitzia Seecharan-Lawrence and has been a long standing member of the Marionettes Chorale. Under the direction of Gretta Taylor, he has toured extensively with the choir during their visits to the United States in 1997 and to Costa Rica in 2004 and has featured as a soloist in genres ranging from Broadway, Classics to Gospel, Spirituals and Calypso.
Floyd entered the Music Festival series of 2002 where he won the Tenor Solo Class for the North Zone. Later in the series he was awarded the Norman Phillip Cup as the Most Outstanding Tenor of the Series.
He has featured in the tenor roles of Mingo in the Living Arts Foundation Caribbean premiere of Porgy and Bess; the role of Ferrando in Cosi fan Tutti produced by the Key Academy of Music; Don José in the Marionettes Chorale Production of Carmen, Jean Valjean in Les Mesable and Spalanzani in the Tales of Hoffmann.
Floyd holds a Grade V Certification in Voice (with Merit) from the Royal School of Music, in London. He has served T&T in the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions as a criminal prosecutor and has set up a private law practice.
Also on sale will be memorabilia from the event as QEDTT will have on sale, branded stuffed toys – Cooper Q, Milo Monkey Q and Scout Q – which have been fan-favourites, t-shirts, candles and more. There’s so much to look forward to at One Night In December, you simply cannot afford to miss it.
Info
For tickets and souvenirs, please contact QEDTT at: qedtt3@gmail.com or call: 387-3146 Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/287036645127499/ Follow QEDTT on Facebook @QuiteExquisitelyDoneTT and on Instagram: @qed.tt
