The Signal Hill Alumni Choir [S.H.A.C ] of Tobago is now a cultural institution of Trinidad and Tobago. The group was founded in 1984. SHAC evolved from the Signal Hill Senior Comprehensive School Folk Choir which dominated the Folk Category of the Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival in 1982 and emergedas National Junior Folk Champs. In 1984 SHAC continued the styles and standards set by the school's Folk Choir and captured the National Folk Championship Award at the Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival. SHAC dominated the National Music Festival during the eighties and retired from Music Festival in 1990 after winning the Calypso Chorale, a new class that was introduced. The junior nursery choir SIGNALITE CHORALE continued the tradition of winning and dominated the nineties. Signalite Chorale dominated the first Music Festival of the new millennium and in 2002, they won Most Outstanding Adult Choir and most outstanding school choir. Over the years SHAC has become a byeword, not only in Trinidad and Tobago, but also in the Caribbean, North America, Europe and Latin America. They have appeared before many world dignitaries including Queen Elizabeth 11 and Desmond Tutu of South Africa. They have performed at many festivals around the world.The following is a list of appearances: 1985 418 Anniversary of the city of Caracas, Venezuela. 1986 Grenada Tour 1988 Barbados Tour 1995 DeKalb International Choral Festival.Atlanta U.S.A 1996 Joint Concert with Duke Ellington Show Choir /Tobago 1997 Carnival Symposium Medgar Evers, NY. 1999 World Beat Festival with Hugh Masekela and Baaba Maal in P.O.S TRINIDAD. Hillside Festival,Guelph,also Harbour Front, Toronto. 2000 Hillside Festival Guelph,Toronto 2001 Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod,Wales [2nd place Folk Category ] The choir has performed in Trinidad and obago at a number of major functions. SHAC is usually the Tobago input for any National showing. The choir was founded by John Arnold, Mike Duncan, Cheryl Duncan and Rawle Carrington. In 1995, all the founding members resigned except Mr.John Arnold who continued to direct the choir to this day. His vision and passion moved the group from one level to another and today the group is by far one of the most dominant artistes out of the Caribbean. MUSIC S.H.A.C performs in the folk style,but the repertoire varies, as well as the genres. They sing and perform Caribbean Folk,World Music, African Folk, Gospel, Reggae, Xmas, calypso and Soca. They perform in what many may describe as a' Folk Operatic' style as they move to every song with well choreographed steps which enhance each performance. The magic of Signal Hill Alumni is to see them as well as hear them. They sing intricate and unique arrangements, with great harmonies, six parts...and dynamic,energetic moves which leaves everyone spellbound. AWARDS Signal Hill has received many awards,but three significant awards are 1)Hummingbird Gold.National Award for Service to T and T in the field of Culture. 2) 2nd Place Folk /Wales International Choral Festival. 3)Express Newspapers Group of the year Award 2001 4) JUST RECEIVED "ICON OF THE NATION " award in Trinidad and Tobago Nov.2002 5) Received Award from Tobago House of Assembly for one of the top 40 groups contributing to T and T over the past 40 years. TRAVEL S.H.A.C has performed in the following cities: 1. Bridgetown,Barbados 2. Various Towns in Grenada 3. Georgia,Atlanta 4. Caracas, Venezuela 5. New York,U.S.A.1997 6. Guelph, Toronto ..Canada 1999,2000 7. Llangollen,Wales 2001 8. Philly,Baltimore,Washington D.C[2003] 9. Toronto,Guelph Christmas Tour 2004 10. Washington.Gospel Concert May 2005 11. St.Lucia DISCOGRAPHY 1 XMAS COMING A collection of original Xmas music with local hit song Xmas Coming. 2.SEASONS A collection of original songs suited to various seasons in Trinidad and Tobago. 3.ONE CARIBBEAN VOICE a collection of calypso choral arrangements 4.O TRINIDAD Signal Hill in a classic concert setting where a variety of moods, genres and repertoire was performed. 5.CELEBRATE XMAS a collection of original Xmas arrangements of familiar Carols e.g The First Noel 6.HARAMBEE A collection of African songs with a Caribbean touch showing the connection. 7.20TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE DOUBLE CD A double CD which features calypso and soca on one CD and Gospel and folk on the other cd. A must have keepsake item. LINKS www.s-h-a-c.net...... CONTACT John Arnold P.O Box 307 Scarborough Tobago Email : jqarnold@hotmail .com Jqarnold2000@yahoo.com Fax 1 868 635 2688 Phone: 1 868 678 3363 1 868 639 0504 bookings can be made at any time ,also enquiries about CDs . STAFF John Arnold ...Artistic Director and Arranger Georgina Peterkin...Choreography MEDIA COMMENTS 'Signal Hill on a roll'.........had the judges stunned into the ground'.. Express Newspaper Signal Hill wins over Caracas.......Newsday April'98 Crowd calls for more as Signalites end Festival....T/dad Guardian..Mar 97 'Thousands danced and waved handkerchiefs in the air,as the choir sang traditional Caribbean folk songs,backed by a three piece band featuring keyboards,pan and African drums;making the Signal Hhill Choir one of the most popular attractions during the Arts and Cultural festival...Express Aug.'99 'The Signal Hill Alumni Choir,usually a crowd puller did not disappoint the capacity audience at City Hall on Saturday night'....... Express Nov. 2001 Signal to Atlanta....Tobago Choir brings the house down in US festival.....Express...July'95 " Signal Hill so good,it leaves you wanting"...Wayne Bowman on Xmas CD in the T'dad Guardian. " The Signal Hill Choir of Tobago ..made Sunday afternoon even sunnier with amazing vocal arrangements of Caribbean composed tunes" Guelph Magazine... Canada. "One of the highlights was the Tobago Signal Hill Choir.Their powerful voices and colourful costumes energized the audience"....Guelph Mercury Newspaper /Canada.