Antigua and Barbuda is set to boost its growing creative economy with a groundbreaking new initiative from the national Festivals Commission: a fully complimentary Music Development Masterclass, designed to elevate local music talent and prepare industry professionals for long-term, global success in the entertainment sector.
Scheduled to run from June 8 to 12, 2026, the 5-day immersive program will host daily sessions from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Eustace Hill Campus (formerly the Antigua and Barbuda International Institute of Technology) located in Coolidge. The training program is open to a broad range of creative and music-focused professionals, including recording artists, songwriters, producers, DJs, artist managers, dancers, visual creatives, content creators, writers, and other industry stakeholders who are committed to advancing their craft and building sustainable careers.
The masterclass is structured around three core focus areas that address the most pressing gaps for emerging and established regional talent: hands-on training in songwriting, audio mixing and mastering, strategic music distribution, and critical education on copyright and intellectual property rights—foundational knowledge for building durable careers in the modern music industry.
All sessions will be led by a roster of seasoned regional and international industry experts, each bringing decades of hands-on experience across global entertainment markets. Darryl Gervais, a multi-hyphenate songwriter, manager and producer with credits spanning multiple music genres, television and film, will lead sessions on intentional songcraft, music placement, and building cross-border hit songs that resonate with global audiences. His sessions will equip participants with practical frameworks to create music with long-term commercial and cultural potential that extends far beyond Antigua and Barbuda’s borders.
International Stephen, a celebrated soca ambassador, international DJ, A&R executive, producer, festival curator and event promoter with nearly 25 years of experience working in the Caribbean music and global Carnival ecosystems, will share insights on building sustainable careers in entertainment, breaking into new international markets, crafting hit records, and navigating the global music business from a veteran’s perspective. Completing the faculty is Titan VCD of NXUS Collective Agency, who will lead training on creating stand-out branded content in an oversaturated digital marketplace, and building consistent, intentional identity across all audience touchpoints.
Together, the faculty will guide participants to turn raw creative talent into tangible professional opportunities and build scalable, sustainable creative businesses. Hon. Dwayne George, Minister of Sports and Creative Industries, highlighted the government’s ongoing commitment to investing in local creative talent, noting that the free masterclass marks another key milestone in the administration’s mission to professionalize and empower the domestic creative community. “By bringing experienced industry leaders to share practical, real-world knowledge—free of cost—we are investing directly in our artistes, producers, writers and music entrepreneurs,” George explained. “Our goal is not only to create great music for Carnival, but also to build careers and businesses that can thrive year-round and compete on the global stage. I strongly encourage every serious music professional to seize this free opportunity.”
Ambassador Elizabeth Makhoul, Chairperson of the Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission, echoed this sentiment, framing the program as a continuation of the commission’s longstanding commitment to direct investment in local music and creative professionals. “By providing access to world-class knowledge and training, we are equipping our engineers, producers, writers, artistes, and creatives with the tools to expand their work beyond Carnival and ensure that Antigua and Barbuda’s Creative Industry is heard, seen, and felt on the global stage,” Makhoul said.
Registration for the program is now open, with interested participants able to collect physical registration forms at the National Festivals Office, located on the 1st Floor of the Cecil George-John Building at the intersection of Corn Alley and Redcliffe Street in St. John’s. Digital registration is also available via WhatsApp at (268) 727-9201, where applicants can send their full name and specify their professional area of focus related to the workshop. Organizers have warned that spots in the program are limited, and placements will be allocated on a strict first-come, first-served basis. Inquiries can also be directed to the commission’s phone line at 462-0194.
The Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission is urging all eligible entertainment professionals—from artists and producers to videographers and songwriters—to take advantage of this opportunity to sharpen their skills, expand their professional networks, and secure stronger, more sustainable futures in the global music industry. The initiative closes with the commission’s rallying cry: Build the music. Build the brand. Build the future. Register today.