Music is one of the most vibrantly thriving aspects of the Jamaican culture. Quality live musical
entertainment is currently a scare commodity within the coorpoarte area. The Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts is one place that provides this scare commodity free of cost to its internal and external audiences. The most recent offering was served up in May at the series of Final Year Music Shows which offered everything from stirring gospel and passionate jazz and blues to vivacious alternative mixes. The performances featured Diploma, Degree and Certificate students in a wide range of disciplines including voice, percussion, bass, drum, saxophone and keyboard. The annual shows are grand expressions of learnt techniques and performance skills during their tenure at the College, consisting of internal and external backing bands, original lyrical and instrumental compositions and accompanying vocalists all combined to create memorable and truly entertaining individual 45 minuite musical packages.
The high level of variety and organizational skills displayed by Raquel Hinds (a voice major) demonstrated that although the execution of a great show is challenging, students at the School of Music are adequately equipped with the necessary tools needed to deliver just that. Her concert entitled My Expressions engaged the audience with the apt selections of opera and rhythm and blues in the form of Franz Schubert’s “Ave Maria”, Ella Fitzgerald’s “Fever” and Beyonce’s “Deja vu”.
Brady Robinson, the self proclaimed Drum Addict showed just how addictive drumming can be for someone with his passion and creativity. His grand entrance generated much anticipation as he emerged from among the cheering audience masked and sandwiched between his two bodyguards as he played feverishly on his single strapped-on drum. They later relieved him of his overcoat and instrument once on stage.When seated around his drum set Robinson fed the audience a variety of hits including “Missing You” by P. Diddy and Faith Evans, Don Drummod’s “Schooling the Duke” on xylophone and an infectiously animated reggae set accompanied by the Pentateuch band.
The students are able to stand out and hold their own among seasoned entertainers. Camille Folks best exemplifies this aspect of their training as she included Richie Spice in her performance to complement her style while not overpowering her voice. Students of the Jazz and Popular Music programme are also taught the appropriate use of theatrics in their performances and Dwayne Foster’s show illustrated this beautifully. The audience’s howls intensified as he positioned himself on stage and waited as his shiny brass saxophone descended from the ceiling into his hands. His soulful delivery of classic hits such as Take Four, which he performed with fellow classmate and trumpeter Chaneil Christian and contemporary hot singles assisted by Romain Virgo summoned a standing ovation.
The lone certificate student and drum major Kamar Forrest was just as memorable as the diploma students, as his show was executed with similar passion which commanded the audience’s unwavering attention for almost an hour, leaving no moment void of screams, encouraging whistles and cheers. Alrick Christian, the sole degree student among the group, schooled everyone about the importance of showmanship and was uninhibited in his performance and uncompromising in his supply of the entertainment value demanded of him by the electrified crowd. He was charming, interactive and funny - all desirable traits of a musician. Even if he can twirl and flip his drumsticks, catch them in mid air repeatedly without missing a beat, which Christian did with ease, these traits breathe life into one’s stage presence. The final necessity for a great show is packaging and the talented Vaughn Dennis, Philip McFarlene and Keiron Cunningham branded their shows with variety. They all delivered songs for everyone on their bass guitar, keyboard and drums respectively. The cultural flair of MacFalene and Cunningham’s show generated favourable responses from the crowd while Dennis’ renditions of popular hits stirred his listeners to active participation within minutes of his opening act.
The technical competence of students cannot be denied or over emphasized because it was so evident in the performances. The calm confidence that underpinned their proficiency oozed from their sticks, symbols, guitars, keyboards and voices. The students have been thoroughly trained for an average of four years in their respective instrumental fields by lecturers such as Michael “Ibo” Cooper, Founder of Third World Band and Head of the Popular Studies Programme and Michael Sean Harris, Contemporary Singer and Violinist.In September part two of the performances will include the remaining diploma students namely, Stephen Maxwell (voice), Kumar Bent (voice), Chaneil Christian (trumpet), Conray Richards (keyboard)
The high level of variety and organizational skills displayed by Raquel Hinds (a voice major) demonstrated that although the execution of a great show is challenging, students at the School of Music are adequately equipped with the necessary tools needed to deliver just that. Her concert entitled My Expressions engaged the audience with the apt selections of opera and rhythm and blues in the form of Franz Schubert’s “Ave Maria”, Ella Fitzgerald’s “Fever” and Beyonce’s “Deja vu”. 
Brady Robinson, the self proclaimed Drum Addict showed just how addictive drumming can be for someone with his passion and creativity. His grand entrance generated much anticipation as he emerged from among the cheering audience masked and sandwiched between his two bodyguards as he played feverishly on his single strapped-on drum. They later relieved him of his overcoat and instrument once on stage.When seated around his drum set Robinson fed the audience a variety of hits including “Missing You” by P. Diddy and Faith Evans, Don Drummod’s “Schooling the Duke” on xylophone and an infectiously animated reggae set accompanied by the Pentateuch band. 
The students are able to stand out and hold their own among seasoned entertainers. Camille Folks best exemplifies this aspect of their training as she included Richie Spice in her performance to complement her style while not overpowering her voice. Students of the Jazz and Popular Music programme are also taught the appropriate use of theatrics in their performances and Dwayne Foster’s show illustrated this beautifully. The audience’s howls intensified as he positioned himself on stage and waited as his shiny brass saxophone descended from the ceiling into his hands. His soulful delivery of classic hits such as Take Four, which he performed with fellow classmate and trumpeter Chaneil Christian and contemporary hot singles assisted by Romain Virgo summoned a standing ovation. 
The lone certificate student and drum major Kamar Forrest was just as memorable as the diploma students, as his show was executed with similar passion which commanded the audience’s unwavering attention for almost an hour, leaving no moment void of screams, encouraging whistles and cheers. Alrick Christian, the sole degree student among the group, schooled everyone about the importance of showmanship and was uninhibited in his performance and uncompromising in his supply of the entertainment value demanded of him by the electrified crowd. He was charming, interactive and funny - all desirable traits of a musician. Even if he can twirl and flip his drumsticks, catch them in mid air repeatedly without missing a beat, which Christian did with ease, these traits breathe life into one’s stage presence. The final necessity for a great show is packaging and the talented 
