In the aftermath of the devastation in Jamaica caused by Hurricane Melissa, one of the country’s leading choral groups, the Jamaica Youth Chorale, together with its legacy ensemble, The Kingston 17, will perform two shows in Cayman this month, bringing a message of hope and resilience.
As Jamaica starts to rebuild, the internationally acclaimed choir will play its part on the road to recovery, using its artistry and music to uplift spirits and rally additional support, especially for those hardest hit areas of Jamaica.
CayMusicA will present the two Jamaica Youth Chorale performances, which will also include the UCCI Dance Company, at the Harquail Theatre to raise awareness for communities and individuals displaced by the hurricane and encourage support towards relief initiatives coordinated by local charities and disaster-response agencies. The performances will take place Saturday, 15 Nov. at 7pm and Sunday, 16 Nov. at 6pm.
“Our mission has always been to use our voices not only to entertain, but also to inspire and uplift,” said Greg Simms, founder and musical director of choral group, in a press release. “In times like these, music becomes more than art, it becomes a form of service. We want our performances to share [the message] with our friends in Cayman, including the many Jamaicans that now call the islands home … that the sun will rise again with our collective efforts.”
The group’s eclectic touring repertoire will feature hopeful and reflective works from Buju Banton to Rodgers & Hammerstein. It features arrangements from Jamaican composers Noel Dexter, C.S. Walters, Dr. Kathy Brown and Dr. O.C. Dawkins, as well as other non-Jamaican composers like Stacey V Gibbs, Ivo Antognini and Craig Hella Johnson.
The group is a not-for-profit organisation comprising singers and musicians from across Jamaica, united by a shared passion for excellence, service and the preservation of the island’s rich choral tradition. Simms said that having not been spared from the hurricane’s impacts themselves, the members are even more driven to use their upcoming performances heading into the Christmas season to rally communities in solidarity and support improved resilience.
“Some of our members have been personally affected by Hurricane Melissa or have families in the areas destroyed or severely impacted. This is a difficult time, but together we can heal, recover and emerge stronger than before,” Simms said.
Tickets, at $25 per person, are available through the Eventbrite website. A special offer of two tickets for $32 is also available. For more information, email [email protected] or call 922-5550.
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