On Monday, Soca star, Destra Garcia said, “Today I begin my spiritual journey back up to the mountain as I begin my annual Lenten cleansing, reflecting and renewing with fasting and prayer with my family.” She shared the expression in the aftermath of Carnival 2026, having enjoyed an exuberant season of revelry, performing her hits ‘Happy People’ and ‘Free Again,’ for fans at various events. Now, as the female soca powerhouse retreats to restore and refresh, she announces the second edition of her Gospel concert in Trinidad and Tobago.

‘Reflections: Sound. Spirit. Surrender’ will be hosted at Queen’s Hall on Saturday, March 28th. The live gospel concert brings together testimony, worship and a collective moment of prayer for Trinidad and Tobago. The event is described as a deep personal journey of faith and will offer the audience an intimate and honest expression of Destra’s walk with God.

“No matter what time of year it is, whether it’s Carnival or Lent, trust that I’m always walking after the Holy Spirit, who guides all my steps,” said Destra. “It may not make sense to everyone, but I am on my own path. I can only be myself. I may not be perfect, but I love God, and I have so much to be grateful for. My blessings keep overflowing.”

For more than 30 years, Destra has observed a sacred personal tradition following Carnival – 40 days of fasting and prayer to reset her heart, mind, body and spirit. “This is why I take this time every year after the Carnival season to cleanse and realign through fasting and prayer,” she explains. “I acknowledge the source of all goodness in my life – my ultimate love, the giver of gifts, the Almighty, the One who has set me free.”

Last year marked the first time she shared that private devotion publicly through Reflections. “After doing this quietly with my family for over 30 years, I opened up and revealed that side of myself for the first time to my fans with Reflections The Album and Concert, and I felt whole,” she said. “On Saturday 28th March, the day before Holy Week begins, join me as I take that journey again. Together we brought to life, a part of me that’s usually hidden. I’m ready to do it all over again with you,” said the entertainer.

Last year’s inaugural concert drew an overwhelming response from patrons who came seeking something deeper than entertainment. This year, Reflections: Sound. Spirit. Surrender builds on that foundation with an even more personal focus – creating space for positive, purpose-filled music that strengthens families and lifts the nation in prayer.

According to a media release, those attending the event can expect powerful live vocals, heartfelt moments of reflection and a carefully curated musical journey centered on resilience, grace and purpose. Within the iconic setting of Queen’s Hall, the evening promises artistic excellence and emotional intimacy, where music becomes both celebration and prayer.
“Queen’s Hall is truly honoured to welcome back Destra Garcia to the Winifred Atwell Auditorium on Saturday 28th March 2026,” says Garfield George, General Manager of Queen’s Hall. “Last year’s Reflections concert was more than a performance – it was a transformative experience that demonstrated the power of music to uplift, inspire and unite. Destra’s artistry, courage and spiritual depth resonated profoundly with our audiences, and we are proud that Queen’s Hall continues to be the stage where such meaningful cultural moments unfold. We eagerly look forward to hosting her once again for what promises to be another unforgettable evening of excellence, inspiration and world-class production.”

Tickets for Reflections are available online at queenshalltt.com and at the Queen’s Hall Box Office , Monday – Saturday, 10am – 6pm.

Trinidad and Tobago artiste, Shurwayne Winchester has revealed that over the past couple years he’s been hosting events alongside schools partnered with, with proceeds going towards bettering the environments students enjoy.

A few years ago, the artiste says he visited a school for the usual interaction with students. His talk started as it typically did, with him explaining to the students that the institution passed for, shouldn’t determine their success. He encouraged the youths to focus on the work and be committed to succeeding on their journey. “One of the students at this particular school was straight. He looked at me and in not so many words, he said there was nothing at the institution to be encouraged by.” 

The teenager argued that as students of that particular school, they felt ‘less than’ as compared to students of other schools where there were better resources for learning. Shurwayne said he left the school that day, awakened to the reality that’s felt by many youths in Trinidad and Tobago. “That day, those students told me they felt forgotten because while some schools had comfort, they didn’t. I knew I had to do something to change that,” he said. 

An idea, born from the bosom of one young man’s honesty, has since positively impacted two schools in Trinidad. “I had done events to help schools raise funds before, but not like this. I wanted to do something where I could be directly involved. I didn’t want the funds to be redirected if placed directly in the schools’ hands. I really wanted to help,” said the artiste. With that his mission, Shurwayne first approached St. Xavier’s and partnering with the school’s principal, his team at SW Limited hosted The Vineyard with all proceeds aiding the school’s infrastructural needs. “The template is basic. I ask the school what they need. I then get a quotation from a registered contractor for the project and SW Limited builds an event, investing 100% of the finances. The school and the parents are responsible for pushing out the tickets. That’s the only thing we ask of them,” he said, emphasizing the importance of parents’ involvement. “You must have an active and involved group of parents who really want to see that change for their children. We then take away the headache of delivering the show and overseeing the school project’s completion. Everything is documented for complete transparency and accountability.” 

Shurwayne says his heart is extremely full, knowing that this initiative is helping others to see their full potential. “My mom and dad always said, “use the gifts you have and give back,”” he recalled, pondering the humble teachings of his parents who passed away earlier this year. In November, a third school will benefit from this initiative. Shurwayne says the overall goal is to raise funds to help other schools that may not be in a position to get the assistance of sponsors. “We’re willing to work with any school that’s willing to agree to the template we’ve created. We’ve built Team A+ under the SW Limited banner, and we’re now moving from school to school. Interested schools can email SW Limited at swlimited@gmail.com with details about their school and what they’d like to have addressed,” said the artiste. 

Extending his gratitude to fellow artistes and musicians, suppliers and others who have shown their support for the effort, Shurwayne says he is extremely thankful to everyone who’s made a difference in the lives of the children, whether directly or indirectly. “I believe I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing because as an entertainer, these people give their support to us in a way that I can’t even thank them enough for. Many of the parents have supported me over many years so if I can now support their children in this way, I’m here to do it. I’m not doing for the school. The school is doing for me, because the school allows me to remind myself of what my responsibility is to my country, my fanbase and the responsibility of carrying on my parents’ names – Codrington and Linda Winchester. I want to do great things and everything I do has to be great,” he said.  

 ‘Just The Two of Us’ is yet another event created to fulfill the needs of students. It will be hosted in January 2026 with Team A + promising an enjoyable experience for all who attend. This week, Shurwayne and his team will give insight into two of the completed projects. “We’ll be showing the full scope of the projects – from planning to completion, on my YouTube channel. Anyone who’s interested in getting involved, whether directly or indirectly can take a look at what we’ve committed to and reach out. As one nation we can do great things. All it takes is love and commitment.”