Edna Manley pushes fund-raising into high gear

Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

As part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, the School of Music at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts is busy raising funds to assist students with their fees as well as buy or upgrade their equipment.

The first of the school's fund-raising efforts came through the Edna Manley College's Arts Foundation with the Sir Willard White concert that was held last month.

Yesterday, the School of Music hosted another concert to raise funds. This time, it came in the form of a piano recital by former student Dr Kaestner Robertson, who is now the chair of the Music Department at Atlantic Union College.

That fund-raising effort will be followed by a faculty recital at the School of Music on October 1, starting at 5 p.m.

The year-long anniversary celebration that started in April is to include other faculty recitals and the Caribbean Heritage Concert. The celebration will end with the 50th Anniversary Benefit Concert with graduates and friends of the School of Music on April 7 next year.

Speaking with The Gleaner, School of Music Director Roger N. Williams explained that scholarships, grants and subsistence are offered through the Arts Foundation. However, with the 50th Anniversary celebration, he said the music school has been on a drive to raise funds to assist students, as well as buy and upgrade equipment, musical instruments and the keyboard lab.

"Linked with the 50th Anniversary celebration, we have several things that we are doing throughout the course of the year. It's very costly to run a music school," he said.

In addition to the concerts that will be held, he said there will be public fora to get the masses involved in the process and more informed about the school's work.

While some students still discontinue their course of study prematurely, sometimes due to the inability to pay fees, Williams added that the number of students dropping out is not like it was years ago.

"The attrition rate is nowhere near where it used to be. We have quite a number of students graduating," he said noting that the music school's current population is about 190 students," Williams said.

Going well so far

Meanwhile, with only two major events being held so far, Williams said the fund-raising efforts have already been going well.

"We are just starting them really. The Sir Willard White concert was a huge success. It was interesting to walk into a room full of people," he said.

With tickets costing $7,000 for the concert and $13,000 for the concert and dinner, he said the event surpassed his expectations. Originally catering for 600 persons, he said chairs had to be added at the last minute due to the demand.

Prior to last evening's concert, Williams was very excited.

"I am looking forward to this concert 'cause I believe it's going to be a huge event. The most important thing is that it's not just a fund-raiser, it's our 50th anniversary homecoming. I am hoping that the public will come and support everything that we have in store," he told The Gleaner.

In addition, the School of Music director said the 50th anniversary celebration is also being used as a tool to put the Edna Manley College back in the forefront, as it is still one of the leading arts institutions in the Caribbean. He said it is also to be used as a form of celebration and a way to engage stakeholders.