A Portland group was formed to support China during wartime. Now it fights a battle to keep the beat of traditional music alive

A Portland group was formed to support China during wartime. Now it fights a battle to keep the beat of traditional music alive

Founded in 1942 by Portland’s Chinese immigrants to raise funds for China’s defense in World War II, the Yat Sing Music Club perseveres in preserving Cantonese opera through ongoing rehearsals and community outreach, despite declining membership and limited interest from younger generations.

One Tent’s Fight to Keep Calypso Alive

As the calypso season heats up, the Take Over Tent (TOT)/Soca Village tent remains a driving force in preserving and reinvigorating the genre’s cultural soul in Saint Lucia. At the centre of this movement is Tent Manager Cecil Charles, a long-standing pillar of the community, whose passion for mentorship, artistic integrity and cultural sustainability continues to shape the tent’s unique identity. Charles, speaking candidly about the tent’s visi…