CayMusicA Kicks Off 2025-26 Season

CayMusicA, the not-for-profit organisation that supports music and the arts in the community, has had a busy week.  After announcing the organisation's rebrand from Cayman Arts Festival to CayMusicA earlier this week, the 2025-26 season kicked off the performance season Thursday night with a sold-out Music-at-the-Library concert.  Accomplished international pianist and co-founder Glen Inanga and CayMusicA’s star alumnus, cellist Dequan Smith, performed two pieces: Chopin’s Sonata in G Minor, Op. 65, and Beethoven’s Cello Sonata Op. 5 No. 2 in G Minor.

Inanga said, “It is a very special treat when Dequan visits from his studies – I always learn something new, and I’m delighted to perform with him.  I’m also very pleased that we are starting off our season this year with such a marvellous programme.”

The next CayMusicA Music at the Library event will take place on Thursday, 25 September, starting at 6:00 pm. The evening will focus on solo and choral performances featuring songs from K-pop, musicals, jazz, popular music and a cappella worship selections from several local performers and the JGHS Youth Chamber Choir.

The fourth annual Cayman Piano Festival will get underway on 2 October and run until 11 October.  This year’s lineup of performers will include one of CayMusicA’s Rising Stars, Marlon Cortes, who is a student at the University College of the Cayman Islands and studies piano with Inanga. 

Music at the Library events are planned for each month up to June 2026, Christmas concerts are also planned and CayMusicA’s Cayman Arts Festival, the annual series of events, will run from 4 to 14 February. 

Marius Gaina, executive director, says, “The Cayman Arts Festival has been running for over 20 years, and we’ve seen so many talented musicians and artists participate over that time.  For 2026, we’re pleased to be able to focus on the amazing talent available from our alumni and artists from the Cayman Islands. It promises to be a very special festival.”

On the education front, CayMusicA’s Starlight programme kicked off as well this month. The afterschool programme has grown significantly over the years.  Frances McConvey, previous head of music for John Gray High School and the leader of the programme, says “We have grown from a handful of students when we first started to several hundred at the start of this term, with teachers coming from many schools to instruct students.  A key goal for our programme is to find students with talent and support them through classes, providing instruments and throughout their musical journey as much as we can.” 

For tickets to events or more information on CayMusicA, visit caymanartsfestival.com, email enquires@caymanartsfestival.com or call 922-5550.