PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Harmonics of the Philipsburg Methodist Church have organized a concert entitled: “Praising in Harmony’’ which will be held on Saturday, November 3rd, 2018 along with various guest artists at the Princess Port de Plaisance Pavilion starting at 7:30pm.
Tickets are being sold for US$ 20.00 or ANG 36.00 and the proceeds of the concert will go towards the upgrading of the audio/video system of the Philipsburg Methodist Church. Tickets for the concert are available at Van Dorp, Family Book Store, Adolphus Richardson Office Supplies, the Philipsburg Methodist Church Office and any Harmonics Band member.
The Harmonics Gospel band was created and formed in 1992 with the intention to accompany the Methodist Sunday School Choir of the Philipsburg Methodist Church, which started in 1998 after the passing of the Superintendent of the Mount William Hill Sunday School.
The band was named The Harmonics because the focus was on the harmony of the music and the singers who always had a special way of blending their voices together. The group always played various genres of music including Gospel, Soca, R&B, Reggae and Instrumentals.
The early beginnings of the band was after Reverend Lloyd Brissett placed an order for new instruments so that the band could have their own instruments. The band previously used various instruments and sound equipment from the individual members of the Harmonics.
Most members of The Harmonics hail from the Philipsburg Methodist Church on St.Maarten. The band while accompanying the Methodist Sunday School Choir used Teddy Philips to assist with the practice sessions together with Jeffrey Richardson who is also the co-founder of the Harmonics along with Raymond Benjamin. Giovanni Radjouki joined played bass for the band and later on it was decided to add singers such as Rosemary Marsham-Hodge, La-Vaune Henry, Romelia Marlin and Patricia Buntin all of whom became the first singers of the band.
The main purpose of the Harmonics Band back then was to minister on the third Sunday of the month which was Youth Sunday. The Band was then actually a young adults band seeing that all the members of the band was under the age of 30 years old. Presently the band plays at other events in addition to Youth Sunday(3rd Sunday) in the Philipsburg Methodist Church.
The Harmonics have traveled to other islands such as St. Eustatius, Aruba, Tortola and Curacao where an impact was made by their singing ministry. The group was chosen as the band to accompany the singers of many secondary school competitions. Concerts were held almost every year since the inception of the band and some of those concerts was done together with the Methodist Sunday School Choir.
The Harmonics had the great privilege to play on the same stage with world renowned Grammy award winning gospel singer Cece Winans of the United States. The band has played with many persons on the island such as Gregory Thompson, the late Erno Richardson, the late Joseph Etienne, Marvin Stephen, Julia Stephen, Jasmine Hanson, Pedro Wilson, Donevan Froston, Edsel Eusebius, Rosemary Marsham-Hodge, Dion Gumbs, Nikita Christmas, Austin Heiliger, Leonora Green, Handel Gumbs, Juliene Gumbs, Lena Brown, Jerry Lloyd, Dwight Blake, Alaine Hodge, Jerry Nicholas, Mervin Woodley, Raphael Thomas, among others too numerous to mention since it’s inception in 1992.
Another highlight of the band was a trip was organized together with the Methodist Sunday School Choir under the leadership of Jeffrey Richardson and the Catholic Youth Choir under the leadership of Bernadine van Veen to travel to Aruba together with the Mighty Dow and Clara Reyes as the choreographer of both choirs.
The Harmonics Band is now taking its music to another level especially when it comes to “Praise and Worship” songs that are played at the various church services. Current Harmonics band members are: Shanella James Romney – Lead Vocalist, Laurine Flanders Augusty – Vocalist, Mayanka Johnson – Vocalist, T’Keyah Dixen – Vocalist, Dennis Salomons – Guitarist, Benson Pompier – Keyboardist, Marc Augusty – Keyboardist, Toby Hodge – Drummer, Hildo Martina – Bassist and Erwin James – Percussionist.
The aim of The Harmonics is to minister to people in song with the intention that their music would win souls to Christ.
Businesses or persons that are willing to assist the The Harmonics can do so by calling +1721 520-7384.
