The eagerly awaited Cayman Arts Festival (CAF) begins next month and promises to impress audiences with a wide variety of musical performances by local and international artists.
The festival, now in its 21st year, takes place from 6-15 February at various venues across the island. Offering an experience of a diverse array of musical performances that celebrate local talent and international artistry. The Cayman Arts Festival has events for classical music, jazz, reggae, and gospel fans.
A musical journey: CAF 2025 highlights
The African Series
Kicking off the festival on Thursday 6th, February at the Harquail Theatre, is The African Series. This stellar lineup includes pianist Rebeca Omordia, double bassist Leon Bosch, pianist Glen Inanga, and percussionist Richard Olatunde Baker. Described by The Independent, as “exhilarating brilliance and kaleidoscopic variety”, this concert takes the audience on a musical journey across Africa, blending Western classical music with traditional African sounds.
Sacconi Quartet
On Saturday 8th February the Sacconi Quartet will perform at the Harquail Theatre. This acclaimed foursome’s harmonious and compelling ensemble elevates string music. With over two decades of experience, they regularly perform for audiences across the globe.
Cayman Youth Choir and New York Cabaret
One of this year’s highlights takes place on Sunday 9th February at the Harquail Theatre. This collaboration between the Cayman Youth Choir and acclaimed Broadway performers from New York includes artists such as KT Sullivan, Natalie Douglas, Jon Weber, Arbender Robinson, and Carole J. Bufford. In this unique fusion youthful energy will be blended with seasoned artistry to create an unforgettable experience.
CAF Youth Camerata with Dequan Smith and Irina Muresanu
Local talent is in the spotlight on Thursday 13th February when the CAF Youth Camerata performs at the Harquail Theatre. Their performance features the most talented young string, woodwind, percussion, and brass players from the CAF music education program. They will be joined by esteemed violinist Irina Muresanu and Caymanian cellist Dequan Smith, making for an unforgettable concert.
Mark De-Lisser Singers and First Baptist Church Choir
On Friday 14th February, the First Baptist Church will host an exciting gospel concert featuring world-renowned MDL Singers together with the First Baptist Church Choir. This will be led by BBC producer and vocal coach Mark De-Lisser, who is known for his arrangement of “Stand by Me” which was performed at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Local talent meets international flair in this unique collaboration.
Beneil Miller & His Reggae Orchestra
The festival concludes on Saturday 15th February at the Harquail Theatre with Beneil Miller & His Reggae Orchestra. Born in Jamaica and raised in the Cayman Islands, Miller describes his music as a “fusion of genres,” seamlessly fitting into formats from roots reggae and modern Caribbean to pop and jazz.
Celebrating two decades of artistic excellence
Established in February 2004 as a biennial event, the Cayman Arts Festival has grown into an annual celebration of music and culture. Over the years, CAF has showcased exceptional performances by local and international artists. Marius Gaina, executive director of CAF, expressed enthusiasm for this year’s lineup. “We’re thrilled to present another exciting festival this year, showcasing an exceptional blend of local and international talent,” he said.
Tickets and additional information
A detailed schedule and tickets can be purchased through the official Eventbrite page.