SOS for 62 Lady Musgrave Road

Rosina Moder, Contributor

An open letter to Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller.

In the wake of cultural icon Dr Olive Lewin's death, Music Unites Jamaica Foundation (MUJF) wishes to bring to your attention one of the greatest needs of the musical fraternity: an independent Centre for Music.

I had the privilege to learn from Dr Lewin by talking to her for hours and experiencing many concerts and rehearsals of her legendary group The Jamaican Folk Singers. But where did I meet her two and a half decades ago? It was when she was rehearsing the Folk Singers at her own home at 8 Hillcrest Avenue. This wonderful choir had no other place to rehearse 25 years ago, and it is tragic to say that not much has changed since.

The harsh reality is that many of the great choirs, as well as a variety of orchestras in Jamaica, have no home. They all are depending on the mercy of a school or a church or other public locations.

Since 2009, MUJF has intensely lobbied for a long-term lease of the historic property at 62 Lady Musgrave Road, where in 1947 the first offices of the University of the West Indies were opened. This house and land would be the most ideal space in Kingston for what we would call the Samuel Felsted Institute.

Samuel Felsted is the first documented composer of Jamaica (1743-1802), but who knows about him? A musical learning centre named after him would imprint this important musical fact in the psyche of the Jamaican people and cultural tourists of the future.

We earnestly plead that you, Madam Prime Minister, act swiftly and assist us in securing this wonderful old building for the establishment of the first independent music centre in Jamaica. We have an outline of the utilisation and potential offerings at this centre, such as being the home of a premier orchestra in Jamaica, with the necessary teaching and practice rooms, as well as a musical instrument repair shop.

The land offers space for a small amphitheatre where on Saturday mornings children could once again enjoy a morning of 'Ring Ding' like in Miss Lou's days.

We are fully aware that this property is in the heart of a residential area. Therefore, we would assure the citizens in the Lady Musgrave vicinity that we would not have any noisy activity after 10 p.m., and no loud amplified music in general.

We are very disheartened to learn recently that the National Insurance Fund is seeking permission to build town houses on this property.

To preserve the culture of one's nation is more precious than any monetary figure could describe. After all, as the late Edna Manley said, "It is the arts that hold Jamaica together."

Rosina Christina Moder is executive director of Music Unites Jamaica Foundation. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and musicunites.jamaica@gmail.com.