Marva Newton

Marva.jpg

Marva Newton is a Trinidadian, although some individuals would say she is a “Trinbaygonian”. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and Linguistics from the University of the West Indies, along with Professional Certificates in Marketing and Advertising from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, respectively. Marva is a guitarist, bandleader, and a communications specialist.  Over the past 25 years, she has straddled the arts and culture circuit as a musician, and the corporate world as a Public Relations and Communications professional.

Marva’s critical involvement in music, theatre and the Arts began in 1992 when she was made band guitarist and later, bandleader for Rawle Gibbons’s, Ah Wanna Fall’ – the second in the playwright’s ground-breaking trilogy of calypso dramas. For her, a self-described calypso aficionado, this opportunity was like a dream come true.

Since then, Marva has worked extensively in music and theatre, in key performance and coordinating roles. Much of her experience was shaped and guided by musicians, theatre directors and playwrights to whom she remains forever grateful. These stalwarts include Ewart Serrant, Louis McWilliams, Rawle Gibbons, Dr. Lester Efebo Wilkinson and Desmond Waithe. Ultimately, like others have invested in Marva, her dream is to help young people fulfill their personal development goals through a unique mix of motivational exchanges that include elements drawn from Trinidad & Tobago’s local music, culture and traditions. 

The following highlights her artistic involvement and cultural contribution:

  • A member of David Bereaux & Friends (vintage kaiso band) since 1992

  • Adjudication (at all levels) of International Soca Monarch Competition – 2010 – 2014 (inclusive) – junior & senior editions

  • Leader of Kairi Kaiso – an acoustic group on a mission to keep calypso alive while celebrating the masters of the art form (launched in June 2011)

  • Musician - “Who Taking Advantage of Who” – The Mighty Sparrow & Caribbean Man Woman Relationships – Lecture/Demonstration by Prof. Patricia Mohammed – Cave Hill, UWI, 2015

  • Music Director – “Sing De Chorus” – National Calypso History Month – October 2018

  • Gimmi Story International Story Telling Festival, Cayman Islands – 2011, 2016, 2019

Guitarist for David Bereaux & Friends

  • Red Sky Festival, CAYFEST, Cayman Islands – 2018

Guitarist for David Bereaux & Friends

  • Rupununi Music & Arts Festival, Georgetown, Guyana – 2019

Kairi Kaiso performance

  • Guest artiste w/ Kairi Kaiso at Braata Productions’ inaugural virtual festival, Bankra Caribbean Culture Festival, June 2020 

  • Musician – “If Sparrow Say So…” Public Lecture/Demonstration in honour of Dr. Slinger Francisco – Mighty Sparrow

  • Tutoring in parang, folk and calypso – St Jude’s Home for Girls and Youth Training Centre (YTC)

  • Lecture/Demos re calypso art form in schools

Although less emphasis is placed on Marva’s singing, she has toured internationally, as a musician – meaning a singer and guitarist. Known for her authentic and flavourful guitar strum, she performs calypso through the ages with her group Kairi Kaiso. Since 2011, this acoustic outfit has been pursuing its mission of keeping the golden tradition of calypso alive, while celebrating the original exponents of the art form. Calypso is both entertainment and “living folklore”, giving voice to Trinidad & Tobago’s rich and varied stories. Through the music—unplugged and unapologetic—Kairi Kaiso delights in spreading positive vibrations and sharing vibrant memories about Trinidad & Tobago with the world!