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A knight to perform at Edna Manley's charity concert

Published:Saturday | August 6, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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From left: Pat Ramsay, Burchell Duhaney, Sylvia Kevorkian and Sir Willard. - Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
From left: Yara White, Sylvia Kevorkian and Clara White.
From left: Sonia Fuller, Pat Ramsay, Paul Issa, Sir Willard, acting Governor General Custos Steadman Fuller, Earl Jarrett and Burchell Duhaney.
From left: British High Commissioner Howard Drake, Altoria Davis and Gill Drake.
Here is Sir Willard (second left) with his family, Sylvia Kevorkian (left), Clara White (second right) and Yara White.
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Curtis Campbell, Gleaner Writer

Internationally acclaimed bass-baritone singer Sir Willard White is slated to perform at a charity concert to raise funds for the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, an institution that he attended when it was called Jamaica School of Music.

The Gleaner was at the press launch, where Sir Willard White was welcomed in a royal manner under the distinguished patronage of the governor general and the Most Honourable Lady Allen.

There was a tropical warmth about the atmosphere, as guests and members of the Willard family chatted and fraternised at the beautifully decorated King's House under the tranquil music of pianist Warren McPherson.

Sir Willard who is a part of the Jamaican diaspora, but has not performed here for quite a while, expressed that he yearned to make an appearance in his home country, but had been awaiting the right occasion.

No hard decision

According to the man with the resounding bass vocals, he received a scholarship to attend the Jamaica School of Music to pursue classical music, therefore the decision to perform for a charity in its favour was not a hard one because it came straight from the heart.

"Jamaica has touched the world with music, and I'm proud to be a part of it, I'm proud to contribute to the encouragement of students to follow the call of their hearts to express their desires through the performing of music," he said.

The principal of the Edna Manley College, Burchell Duhaney, said that educational institutions are facing financial problems, he said that educational development could not depend on the Government and student fees only, but on innovative programmes that can raise additional income.

He also promised that the benefit concert would be fulfilling and rewarding and implored the public to support the cause.

Chairman Pat Ramsay, who orchestrated the plot to get Sir Willard on board, said that Sir Willard was more than willing to assist in a good cause.

She expressed that a scholarship would be implemented because the school had lost talented students because of their inability to pay fees. "We have to start somewhere, and with whatever money we raise with Sir Willard White that will be a start," she said.

The benefit classical concert is set to take place at The Jamaica Pegasus, 81 Knutsford Boulevard Kingston 5, starting at 6 p.m.

Tickets are available at the ground flour Pegasus Gallery and attract a price of $7,000 for the concert only, and $13,000 for concert and dinner.

Sir Willard was knighted by the queen of England in 2004 and is also a recipient of the prestigious Jamaican Order of Merit, the third-highest honour in the Jamaican honours system, for his international contribution to the performing arts.

The highly esteemed singer and ambassador told The Gleaner that youths should be more interested in classical music because life is about variety and self-expressing, and all types of music are ways of expression.

After his highly anticipated Edna Manley College charity concert, the singer will take off to Madrid, Spain, where he is to complete a musical production and many more international projects that are too much to mention.