Grammy Award-winning electro-jazz cellist, trombonist and composer Dana Leong will be performing at the 2016 Cayfest showcase on Saturday 27th February, the Cayman National Cultural Foundation (CNCF) has announced.

Known for his musical stylings that fuse classical, jazz and pop to creative unique and pioneering compositions, Leong has taught Jazz at Stanford University from the age of 16. He has won two Grammys in Latin Jazz for his collaboration with Paquito D’rivera; worked with Kanye West and Sean “P. Diddy” Combs in Hip-Hop; and with DJ A-Trak and DJ Qbert in Electronic Dance Music. He has also been a guest musical director for Fela on Broadway, composed themes for international brands such as Hermès, Virgin Galactic, Porsche and Mont Blanc, serves as a U.S. Musical Ambassador, and is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. Dana Leong has also worked with Yamaha to consult on the design of the “Silent Cello”.

While in Cayman, Leong will be teaming up with another Grammy-winning artist – Caymanian Jason “JG” Gilbert – and Samuel Rose of Swanky Kitchen Band on a special project. Details are being kept under wraps for the moment but CNCF’s Rita Estevanovich says the result will be historic.

“We are so thrilled about this fusion of talent that is going to take place,” said Estevanovich. “The collaboration of these great musical minds is an exciting creative process to witness and we are proud to be a part of this piece of history in the making which is made even more special because we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Harquail Theatre this year. This is the perfect way to commemorate this milestone.”

Cayfest starts on Thursday, 25th February with the National Arts & Culture Awards, an invitation-only event, where local artists are celebrated for their creativity in the arts and ingenuity in preserving and promoting Caymanian cultural heritage.

Friday, 26th February is the time to “dress up, dress down” and weaves a visual tapestry of beauty and harmony. Individuals, students and corporate entities are encouraged to display their love for culture by wearing traditional cultural wear, sportswear, country colours or anything that represents their culture(s) in order to raise funds for CNCF’s Youth and Cultural programmes. Cost to take part is $5 for adults and $3 for youth.

On Friday night, the public is invited to see and hear the Cayman Islands National Folk Singers perform at the Harquail Theatre. Tickets are on sale at Foster’s Food Fair Strand Location, Health Care Pharmacy in Grand Harbour, Funky Tangs and the Harquail Box Office. Prices are $15 for adults and $10 for children.

“The Folk Singers put on a phenomenal performance that should not be missed,” said Estevanovich. “They are committed to preserving, celebrating and propagating the musical traditions of the Cayman Islands, and Cayfest would not be complete without them.”

The weekend of culture culminates with the Red Sky at Night Festival which takes place at the Harquail Theatre grounds from 4:00 pm to midnight on Saturday, 27th February. Red Sky at Night is the largest display of local talent on island, ranging from dancers, actors, musicians, culinary artists, poets and storytellers to creative work by local visual artists and crafts people.

For a full festival schedule and more information on Cayfest events log on to www.artscayman.com/cayfest, email Rita Estevanovich at [email protected] or call 949.5477