Rosette and Friends brings heat to Mandeville for Valentine's Day

The cool town of Mandeville will get some heat for Valentine's Day when noted soprano and musical theatric, Rosette Chisholm-Salazar, celebrates love with friends on Sunday, February 13 at Mandeville Place, 22A Ward Avenue.

The concert, which starts at 6 p.m., will cater to individuals and couples who like baroque, classical, romantic and contemporary music blended with poetry. The instrumental feature will include the clarinet, piano and backing band, Step by Step.

The main performance of the evening dubbed 'A Celebration of Love' will be Jamaica-born Rosette Chisholm-Salazar, who lectures in the Department of Communication Studies at Northern Caribbean University. She has so far done one major performance, a solo recital in 2005, at the University of the West Indies Chapel and has had appearances on the Jamaican stage.

"We want to give the residents of Mandeville another option as to where to go during Valentine's, [Day]" said Chisholm-Salazar. "It will also be an opportunity to expose the variety of music that is available among the four nations represented."

Currently in musical theatre

Chisholm-Salazar is currently involved in musical theatre. Her theatre experience began formally with the Eagle Theatre Company in the production 'Jamaica Alive' staged at the Pantry Playhouse, and 'Sarafina' with the Jamaica Musical Theatre Company, staged at The Little Theatre. Her most outstanding theatre appearance was in the Father HoLung and Friends production, 'Moses' in one of the lead roles. She has also appeared in their latest production 'YES', and enjoys touring locally and internationally with the troupe.

Of note is that the performances will bring together a blend of performers from other cultures. Clarinetist Rafael Salazar (husband of Rosette) is a native of Cuba who lectures in the Department of Music at Northern Caribbean University.

Uchenna Obi is a poet, guitarist, songwriter and singer from Nigeria. Colombian Edison Valencia and Jamaica-born Mikhail Johnson will be on piano. Completing the line-up is tenor André Shepherd and female poet Elaine Oxamendi-Vicet, who will read from her recently published book, Faice Inside Out.

This 'must-attend' event is sponsored by Always Beautiful and Curtis Watson Studios International. Cover charge is $1,000 for adults and $250 for children under twelve.