Meet our National Executive
CHAIRMAN
Kory Mendez
Kory Mendez is an experienced arts and cultural leader with expertise in operational management, administration and the performing arts. He currently serves as Manager of The UWI Development and Endowment Fund, providing strategic and operational leadership in fundraising, stakeholder engagement, sponsorship, and events. He is also Co-Founder and Producer of MW Productions and former General Manager of The Lydian Singers.
Kory has a longstanding connection to the Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival Association, having distinguished himself as a festival participant and former champion. He served as Business Officer on the National Executive from 2022–2024 and Vice Chair from 2024–2026, and currently serves as Chair of the North Committee. With this experience and a strong understanding of the Association and its membership, Kory seeks to serve as Chair, continuing and building on the work of the National Executive while advancing the growth and sustainability of the Music Festival.
VICE-CHAIRMAN
Rayphyel Sookoonsingh
Rayphyel is a thorough and methodical administrator who commands years of experience across the fields of business management, sales, hospitality and information technology. He holds an International Advanced Diploma in Computer Studies and acts as the Secretary for the TT South-Central Music Festival Association. A former biennial Music Festival competitor and winner, Rayphyel has pledged his commitment to the high standards, longevity and growth of the TTMFA and its products.
Rayphyel is also a member of The Southernaires Choir, and has formerly served on its management committee. He has supported the Festival from behind the scenes for a number of years; working on and alongside consecutive TTMFA National Executives since 2019. His notable contributions include the biennial Music Festivals from 2020-2026, where he has served in myriad roles, including: syllabus editor, website administrator, festival secretary, Marketing/Communications Officer, and South-Central Regional Representative.
Secretary
Toya Louison
Ms. Toya Louison is a dynamic community leader, youth mentor and advocate with extensive experience in corporate administration, project management, international relations, public relations and organizational leadership. She previously served as Executive Assistant to the West Indies Junior Chamber Board of Directors, overseeing Skills and Curriculum Development, and as the 74th President of Junior Chamber International Trinidad. Her leadership extends to community and civic organizations, where she serves as Chairman of the Laventille West Women’s League, Vice Chairman of the Laventille West Constituency, Director of the Laventille Women’s Development Foundation, Secretary of Woodbrook Secondary School PTA, PRO of Port of Spain Region PTA, Treasurer of the Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival North Committee, and Secretary of the Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival Association.
Treasurer
Shurlon Patrick
Shurlon Patrick is a passionate and dedicated Music Instructor with more than a decade in both performing and teaching music. Currently serving in the Ministry of Education, he has had the privilege of teaching and inspiring students across various age groups and skill levels.
His academic journey began with a first degree in Economics, which provided him with a unique perspective on discipline and analytical thinking. However, his true passion for music led him to pursue a second degree in Music, solidifying his expertise and allowing him to bridge his love for the subject.
He has had the privilege of serving as assistant of serving on TTMFA National Committee as the assistant secretary/treasurer and Treasurer and looks forward to using his skills and abilities to strengthen the Association.
Business Officer
Sean Sadaphal
Mr. Sean Sadaphal is presently the music teacher at Hillview College and is the former music teacher at Naparima Girls’ High School. He holds a BSc Information Systems and Management (UOL), BA Musical Arts (UWI), MA Music (Hunter College, NY) and Diploma in Education (UWI). Mr. Sadaphal’s main career path spans: past Business Analyst at Guardian General Insurance, Director of Business Pro Ltd to Interning at Carnegie Hall in the Government Relations Department and Assistant to the Executive & Artistic Director at Flushing Town Hall, NY. His appointment as a Board of Director to the St Andrews Theological College serves as a testament to his ability to lead & advise as required. Mr. Sadaphal also provides organist and keyboard accompaniment to the Curepe Presbyterian Church and the Church of Assumption, Maraval. He diligently served as the TTMFA National Executive’s Business Officer from 2024-2026 and aims to continue his steadfast contribution.
Assistant Secretary/Treasurer
Kwesi Moore
Kwesi Moore currently serves on the executive of Pan Trinbago Inc. as its Public Relations Officer. He educational background centres around business, having attained his Bachelors degree in Economics with a Minor in Management Studies from the University of the West Indies, St Augustine.
In addition to Kwesi’s professional work, he has been a member of the renowned Desperadoes Steel Orchestra for the last 15 years, where he functioned at different levels including General Manager and Treasurer. He also helped transition the organization’s management style where Desperadoes adopted a corporate governance model, with its own Board of Directors and a revised management structure. Currently, Kwesi functions a member of the Finance Team and Chairman of the organization’s Events Committee, successfully staging several profitable and well-subscribed events.
Furthermore, Kwesi’s service to his community is displayed through his membership in the prolific Lydian Singers, specifically as a member of the Lydian Steel. In the Lydians, Kwesi held the positions of Recruitment Officer, Assistant Secretary and Secretary to the Board, Management Committee and the Lydian Tecomas (the Junior arm of the Lydian Singers). Additionally, he has served as Assistant Production Manager and Production Manager for many productions of the choir between 2021 and 2023.
Some other noteworthy achievements by Kwesi are as follows:
- Current Arranger for the Symohony of Saints Steel Orchestra (a combined group of St Mary’s College and St Joseph’s Convent, POS)
- Represented Trinidad and Tobago in the Global Young Leaders Conference in Washington DC and New York in 2015
- Awarded the Sir Ellis Clarke Community Service Award in 2016 for his contribution and work to his Alma Mater, St Mary’s College.
Timothy Bally
marketing & communications officer
Timothy Bally is an ethnomusicologist, multi-instrumentalist, conductor, composer and arranger currently pursuing a PhD in Music at Royal Holloway, University of London, where he also completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music.
Having been involved in the Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival from a young age, Timothy offered himself for service to the South-Central Music Festival Association following the completion of his Master’s degree and has served as its Assistant Treasurer since 2023. Beyond academia and the Festival, he is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Hummingbird Music Productions and Musical Director and Conductor of the Southern Symphony Steel Orchestra.
Timothy is committed to the promotion of music literacy, the advancement and preservation of Trinidad and Tobago’s music and culture, and creating opportunities for young musicians. He hopes to contribute these values, together with his academic, creative and administrative experience, to the continued growth of the TTMFA.
Representative for South-Central
Michele Dowrich
Michele Dowrich has been an educator for over 40 years, having taught at both the primary and secondary school levels. For 6 years she was a Curriculum Officer in the Ministry of Education with responsibility for Visual and Performing Arts especially at CSEC and CAPE examinations. She is a private tutor, an accomplished performer, church accompanist, CXC examiner and Panorama adjudicator.
Ms Dowrich is a former Music Festival finalist (several times over) and Championship winner in vocal solo and ensemble classes under the late Joy Caesar. Her school choirs have gained many prestigious awards and titles in the Championship classes also.
Ms Dowrich gives thanks to God for the gift of music which she willingly uses to assist others be it in teaching, performing, accompanying, adjudicating or just advising. Currently retired, she is blessed to contribute to the very festival of her formative years.
representative for north
Maureen Clement
MAUREEN CLEMENT has been a music educator for over 40 years for steelpan, piano, recorder, and voice. She is the founder and Music Director of The Entertainers Music Group and Trinity Singers, both winners at Music Festival. The holder of a Chaconia Silver medal 2020, Ms Clement is an award-winning steelpan soloist, placing second in Pan Is Beautiful and twice champion of the National Music Festival
Composer Class. She has conducted several champion junior bands, performing with and conducting many choirs and steelbands in various parts of the world. She is also an adjudicator of many competitions locally and abroad, including Junior Panorama and Virginia Beach Music Festival. Ms. Clement is Chartered Science Teacher, Executive Director of Prison Fellowship, Chairman of Friends of Botanic Gardens and Curriculum Advisor to We Say Yes NGO. Her life’s motto is ‘it is learned for the benefit of all’.
representative for tobago
Franz Job
Franz is a Song Writer, Musician and Composer of more than 20 [twenty] years, taught and trained by some of the best practitioners of Music and The Arts in Tobago. He is also known as Franz Job the “Country Boy” (the recording artist and performer), and acts as Mentor to various aspiring performers, both in and out of schools and community establishments in the island.
Franz is also Music Director for The Tobago Drama Guild, Youth Quake / Quakettes Performers and Delecia’s Dance Agency.
His works have been featured on various stages, including the Tobago Heritage Festival, the Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival, the Prime Minister’s Best Village Trophy Competition and Carifesta [2019]; alongside other local and regional Music and Arts exhibitions.
Today, Franz serves as Trustee of the Tobago Music Association and Tobago Representative of the Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival Association.