Portmore Chorale celebrates 25 years

Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

In spite of its youthfulness, the municipality of Portmore boasts what many established towns across Jamaica cannot: an active chorale.

This year, the Portmore Chorale celebrates its 25th anniversary of ministering to the people of Portmore. And on Sunday, the choral group concluded its annual season of ministering at the Gregory Park Baptist Church in St Catherine. It is customary for the group to begin its Christmas ministry in Kingston and St Andrew and close in Portmore.

A Christmas Alleluia was the title of this year's ministry. It was subdivided into seven sections. Separated by performances from the Gregory Park Baptist Church, a duet by a mother and daughter, and the talented Jovani Williams, along with remarks from MC Karen Kennedy, the selections in each segment were well grouped and beautifully rendered.

With the women wearing cream tops and dark bottoms, and the men the inverse - dark tops and cream bottoms - the group began the service with a rich delivery of a Pepper Choplin-arranged My Eyes Have Seen the Glory. And the first section ended with a jubilant rendition of Joseph Martin's arranged Jubilant Song.

Outstanding performances by soloists Judy Marie Williams, Baugh-Burnett, and Charmain Marie Jack in Mary & Elizabeth, another Choplin arrangement, marked section two.

The chorale's best performance of the evening came in the last two sections.

Long-serving members

A change in costumes and different formations from the previous sections and the gentlemen and ladies of Portmore had the members singing and nodding to Guava Berry and She Rock the Baby, Calypso Carol and Christmas Mento.

The guests and MC were also complimentary in their roles. Kennedy was witty and was aptly described by Sharon Baugh-Burnett, one of the long-serving members of the group, in her vote of thanks.

"Karen has the right things to say at the right time in the right way."

Williams, too, gave his usual lively performance. Playing his violin, he received the first vocal reaction from the audience with a member of the audience voicing aloud "Him good!". When Kennedy asked for another selection, like a professional campaigner, young Williams, launched into a Bob Marley medley.

Mother and daughter, Judy Marie Williams and Charmain Marie Jack, as well as the two dancers from the home church, gave creditable performances.

But the real story of the Portmore Chorale's 25th anniversary should be about co-founder and the group's pianist, Karen Henry.

Diagnosed with a serious medical problem about four weeks ago and told that she needed to have surgery without delay, Henry, a committed and dedicated member, attended subsequent rehearsals and even performed at the chorale's season opener at the Saxthorpe Methodist Church.

"She made a sacrifice for the chorale," her brother, Vince Henry, told The Gleaner.

On the Tuesday before the concert, Henry had surgery and the members of the Portmore Chorale had her in their hearts, and so part one of the programme closed with a special prayer for her. "Karen is missed," said Baugh-Burnett with the others echoing her in the affirmative.

Karen Henry's talent and significance to the group were highlighted in the employment of two pianists, Shirley Whylie and Lilleth Christian, to replace her.

But in fairness to the two, they had only four days of rehearsals. And it is only fitting to say, "A speedy recovery Karen Henry."