Guests of the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education Fund (CHASE) were enthusiastic partakers of the fruits of investment in young talent in the performing and visual arts on July 25. The occasion was a special presentation featuring performers and visual artists who have been awarded scholarships under the Fund’s Arts and Culture Portfolio, to pursue further studies in their fields of endeavour.

Entitled “A Classical Evening with CHASE”, the sparkling event was under the distinguished patronage of Their Excellencies the Governor General and the Most Honourable Lady Allen.

With a décor of soft lights, a backdrop of pure white and hints of gold musical notes complemented by the music of great composers such as Handel, Mozart, Chopin and Cole Porter, The Grande Jamaican Suite of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel was transformed into an opera house.

The Jamaica Young People Symphony (JYPS), despite their youthful years displayed professionalism as they delivered the Jamaican National Anthem written by E. Mapletoff Poulle and Robert Lightbourne, This stirring rendition was followed by an impressive set that included George Frederick Handel’s Processional; Gabriel’s Oboe (from the movie ‘The Mission’) with the Ennio Morricone oboe solo played by Dr. Althea Neblett; and Enrico Toselli’s Serenade.

Classical Pianist Warren McPherson, showed his mastery as he performed Mozart’s Sonato in D major, Allegro, and Andante. A past student of the Edna Manley School of the Visual and Performing Arts, McPherson recently completed his sophomore year studies in piano performance at the University of Southern Maine.

Ade Robinson, also a Classical Pianist, is preparing to pursue further studies in Europe after completing four years of study at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Forth Worth, Texas. He showed definite signs of being a budding musical virtuoso with a repertoire from works by Chopin and Rachmaninoff.

Classical Guitarist Shawn Richards, another graduate of the School of Music gave lessons in music during his entertaining set which included Fantasie by Silvius Leopold Weiss; Una Limosna por el amor de Dios by Agustin Barrios Mangore and Bob Marley’s Is this Love. Richards is completing his final year of studies in Venezuela and hopes to return home with his Degree and take advantage of opportunities to impart his knowledge of the classical guitar to young Jamaicans.

The two soprano’s for the evening were Ana Strachan, a member of the University Singers who attends Ithaca College, New York, where she is pursuing a degree in vocal performance and Lori Burnett, a lecturer at the School of Music at the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts. Both delivered mesmerizing performances to a most appreciative audience.

Strachan, accompanied by Paulette Bellamy, showed off her vocal range with Arthur Sullivan’s Poor Wand’ring One from “Pirates of Penzance” and Pierott from “Four Chansons de Jeunesse” by Claude Debussy.

During her performance, she invited her sister Samantha on stage to join in one of her pieces. Lori, accompanied by pianist Livingston Burnett, described some of the calamities that occur in the opera before launching into her scintillating performance of Alfredo Catalaria’s Ebben? Ne andro lantana; Cole Porter’s So In love from “Kiss me Kate” and a gospel number Ain’t That Good News. Ana and Lori closed the event with the all-time favourite classic Summertime.

Works on display by CHASE’S visual artists who are scholarship recipients included ceramics Michael Layne; visual artists Phillip Thomas, Dale Bedasse; Stanford Watson and Louis Ruddock, who is a visual arts tutor for students with disabilities.

Among the specially invited guests were Hon. Olivia Grange, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, members of the Diplomatic Corp, directors and associates of the CHASE Fund as well as friends and family of the performers.

The CHASE Fund has been supporting music education as part of the mandate of its Arts and Culture portfolio. In addition to building and equipping music rooms in schools across the island, the Fund offers scholarships to individuals and groups to further their studies in the various areas of the classical genre.

To date CHASE has disbursed some $958 Million under its arts and culture portfolio with $11.5 million allotted to the music in schools programmes and $63.5 million to scholarships in the performing and visual arts.