On September 4, 2025, the Shaw Park Complex in Tobago filled with voices, music, and memory. It was not just another evening on the cultural calendar of the island. It was the Bishop’s High School, Tobago Centennial Concert, a showcase created to honor one hundred years of education, tradition, and community. For many who attended, both in person and virtually through Wack.tv, the night was a reminder of the power of music to hold history and the ability of performance to keep a legacy alive.
Bishop’s High School has long been a landmark in Tobago, a place where academic excellence has intertwined with cultural pride. From its earliest years, the school has produced leaders, artists, and thinkers. To celebrate a century of that achievement, the Centennial Committee, under the guidance of John Arnold as producer, crafted a program that was at once ambitious and intimate. It aimed not only to showcase talent but to embody the story of Bishop’s High School, Tobago itself: proud, resilient, and alive with possibility.
The concert unfolded as a journey through sound and movement. The national anthem opened the evening, a familiar ritual but one that resonated differently as alumni, students, families, and friends stood together. What followed was a mosaic of performances that moved from gospel to calypso, from steelpan to spoken word. The Bishop’s High School Centennial Choir brought audiences to their feet with their rendering of Hallelujah. It was not only the beauty of the voices that stirred emotion but the symbolism of generations singing side by side. Their performance became a reminder that the spirit of the school is not confined to one era but is continually renewed.
Centennial Concert Class of ’84 – (L-R): Lystra Antoine, Anne Marie , Michelle, Melony Hunte, Marcia
Among the soloists, the variety was striking. Rawle Carrington gave a soulful rendition of Suddenly and Calypso Music, carrying with him the joy of the island’s rhythms. Garth James delivered Ribbon in the Sky and Caravan of Love, offering a bridge between global classics and the local celebration. His voice carried warmth and reverence, a kind of offering to the audience that reminded them of love’s enduring power. Terance Baynes’s gospel numbers, Great is Our God and Christ the Solid Rock, drew strength from faith, filling the hall with conviction and uplift.
Max James, an instrumentalist, merged spiritual yearning with theatricality in Come Jesus Come and On Broadway. His artistry illustrated the way sacred and secular can meet on stage without losing either depth or resonance. Dr. Charleston Thomas, himself both musician and author, contributed original compositions, Balance and Fill My Dreams. His work carried intellectual weight but also emotional grace, reflecting both academic insight and personal vision.
For many, one of the most memorable performances came from pannist Ojay Richards, whose steelpan selections demonstrated why the national instrument continues to be a wellspring of pride for Tobago and Trinidad. Richards, who has spent more than two decades shaping his artistry, moved easily between tradition and innovation. His playing was not just technical mastery but an act of cultural affirmation.
Dance, too, had its place. Reanne Lindsay’s and Jhanique’s choreography pieces turned movement into storytelling, with bodies weaving memory and history into motion. Violinist Caryll Warner introduced classical texture, a reminder that the language of Bishop’s is as expansive as it is particular.
As the evening continued, performances deepened in range. De Wranglers brought the humor and rhythm of speechband, keeping alive a tradition rich in wit and cultural commentary. Peter Granville offered Your Song and Dingolay, placing the universal alongside the distinctly Caribbean. Spoken word by Kleon McPherson ignited reflection, proving that words alone, carried with conviction, can transform a stage into a space of contemplation.
Vocalist Garvé Sandy performed Be Patient and More Tempo, blending gospel fire with Caribbean rhythm. John Arnold himself, producer of the concert, stepped into the role of instrumentalist, offering Take Five and Om Shanti. His mastery of global jazz with a spiritual center underscored his dual identity as both artist and visionary.
In the second half, the Centennial Choir returned with Hi Mas and Celebration. By then, the atmosphere had shifted from solemn remembrance to jubilant festivity. Audiences clapped, sang, and danced along, swept into the living heartbeat of Tobago’s spirit.
The latter performances kept that energy alive. Deriem Williams sang Prove Them Wrong and Express Your Feelings, channeling triumph and resilience. The speechband group Dem Bishés filled the space with humor and cultural pride, while Dr. Crystal Skeete’s spoken word grounded the evening in thoughtful reflection. Yolande Thomas brought grace through song, while ballroom dancers led by Louis Charles brought elegance and romance. BHS Vibes, choreographed by J’Hanique, gave the younger generation a voice on stage, energetic and unrestrained.
Hilton Pino Samuel sang Unchained Melody and The Prayer, each note resonating with devotion. The renowned Marcia Miranda, long celebrated as the Parang Soca Queen, gave two selections that burst with festive energy, turning the hall into a space of celebration. Caleb Hart followed with his soulful voice, filling the space with passion. The Ultrasonics Band closed with Wake Up Everybody and Nobody Greater, leaving the night on a note of unity and uplift.
For John Arnold, who has produced more than one hundred shows in his career, the evening was different. He reflected later and later mentioned to his team: “There was something truly special about last night. The Bishop’s Centennial Concert was more than just a performance. It was an experience that will live on in the hearts of everyone who was there. You gave more than a performance. You created magic. I am deeply grateful, and from the bottom of my heart, I want you to know how much this means. Last night was one for the history books, and it will stay with me, and with all of us, for a very long time.”
Concert Producer John Arnold (Right)
Alumni and performers echoed his sentiment. Marcia Miranda expressed her gratitude. “Allow me to express my gratitude to John and all the team for my inclusion at last evening’s experience. The impact of the concert was clearly a positive and memorable one, and your dedication was remarkable. To all the brilliant BHS performers, you are absolutely amazing stars. Love and continued blessings to all.”
Max James offered appreciation: “I too want to express my appreciation to John and the team for the opportunity to have taken part in the centennial event. Thanks to all and especially to the other artistes that made the event truly special.”
Garth James praised the spirit of the evening: “Big ups to John and his team and all performers for an exhilarating evening. Thanks indeed for the love, joy, positive energy, talent, and artistry poured out by all and received by all. It was indeed a blessing.”
For younger alumni, the evening was a chance to see familiar faces shine in new ways. Max Caleb described his joy at hearing one of his favorite songs performed by one of his favorite bands on his favorite instrument, the steelpan. He marveled at Ojay Richards’s performance, calling him a “young legend” he had known for more than twenty years.
The Centennial Concert was more than a night of music. It was a statement of continuity. The performers, both seasoned and emerging, carried the story of Bishop’s into its next century. The audience, whether present at Shaw Park or streaming from afar, became part of that story too. Every note, every word, every step on the stage stitched together the past and the future.
When the lights dimmed and the applause finally receded, what remained was not just memory but momentum. Bishop’s High School, Tobago has celebrated its hundred years not only by looking back but by renewing its commitment to culture, artistry, and community. The Centennial Concert proved that a school’s legacy is not just in classrooms or examination results but in the lives it shapes, the creativity it nurtures, and the spirit it sustains.
As Tobago looks ahead, the echo of that night will remain. It will remain in the pride of alumni, in the artistry of performers, and in the hearts of all who call themselves Bishopians. The Centennial Concert was a reminder that history is not a story we leave behind but a song we continue to sing.
Watch The Concert On Demand
Watch the unforgettable Centennial Concert On Demand stream and experience the magic of 100 years of excellence, unity, and legacy — wherever you are!
https://wack.tv/product/bhs-centennial-celebrations-100-video-on-demand/
