JSO NEWS

Breaking the News on the Classical Scene in Jamaica

November 2014

Hillel Orchestra Creating Waves

The beauty of classical music was displayed in its finest on the campus of Hillel
on Friday, November 7th when the Hillel Prep School Orchestra, along with
members of the High School Orchestra and Pre-Orchestra, demonstrated their
musical talents during the Prep School Assembly. The vibration from the young
players created waves of excitement and left the audience in awe. It was a
unique and memorable experience to watch kids as young as 4 years old
demonstrate mastery over their instruments.
The group was led by American Violinist and International String Coach, Dr. Lisa
Walker, who seized the moment to educate the kids in the audience on the different sections of the orchestra before introducing the string family: violin, viola,
cello and double bass.

Naomi Campbell displaying her musical

talent on the Violin

Members of the Pre-Orchestra playing with the Prep School Orchestra. Standing L-R: Zara Walker,
Laila Chen, Jacob Chen, Cole Brown. Seated: Cameron Brown (cello)

Star of the String Family

The star of the string family was easily the double bass, which created an excited stir among the children when the huge instrument was displayed and demonstrated by Guest Bass player, Alistair Petrie from Italy. Almost all the kids in the
audience quickly chose the double bass when asked which instrument they
would like to play. Popularity also surged for the viola when Dr. Walker revealed
that there is a shortage of viola players worldwide and that the viola could cut
the students college bill in half because of the high demand for violists.
The purpose of the event was to build awareness of the orchestras on campus
and stimulate interests. Judging from the reactions of the students, teachers and
parents in attendance, the event was a major success and a welcome initiative
at Hillel.

Alistair Petrie demonstrating the sound of the

double bass

YOUTH DIVISION

The Jamaica Youth Symphony Orchestra (JYSO)

was the Talk of the Town at the Pegasus on Friday, November 21st when it performed at the JPS
Solar Mills Customer Service Event.
L-R: Emily Reynolds (Co-Concertmaster); Ellie Hind (Co-Concertmaster)
Giselle Bradshaw (Principal 2nd Violin); Danyella Holmes (Assistant Principal 2nd Violin)

Led by Emily Reynolds as Concertmaster and

assisted by Co-Concertmaster Ellie Hind, the
group kicked off the event with the Ukrainian Bell
Carol followed by Star Wars before entertaining
the audience with a series of Classical, Jamaican
and Popular works much to the audiences delight.
The JPS Director of Sales and Marketing, Mr.
Garth McKenzie, was visibly pleased as he delivered his welcome speech and disclosed that JPS
was the first to have hired the young and talented
musical group, consistent with its track record of
being first!
The purpose of the event was to introduce the
companys solar products in Jamaica and to sensitize its customers on new products to be introduced soon.

Tyler Beckford (Associate Concertmaster); Nishani Clarke (1st Violin)

Photo Caption

Jada Walker, Principal Viola

Zachary Jackson, Percussion (Keyboard)

Upcoming Events
December 4th
All roads will lead to
Hillel on Dec 4th when
the Hillel Orchestra
stages its End of Term
Recital.
Directed by Dr. Lisa
Walker, the event will
see Ellie Hind leading
as Concertmaster, assisted by CoConcertmaster, Emily
Reynolds. A total of 32
musicians are scheduled to perform, including several soloists.
Anticipation of the concert has generated excitement and all indications are that the event
will be sold out.
See flyer for details.

December 11th
Following its Recital, the
Hillel Orchestra will
bring the curtain down
for the year at the Hanukkah concert at Hillel
on Dec 11th.
Consistent with tradition, the concert is expected to be well attended by the Hillel
community.
JSO News will be on
spot to cover the event.

The Violin Doctor is Back!

Dr. Walker working with Kennedy Brown from the Prep-School Orchestra

Members of the Prep School Orchestra. L-R: Ellie Hind, Nishani Clarke,
Danyella Holmes, Nathan Campbell

Dr. Lisa Walker is back in Jamaica and is now developing

the next generation of classical musicians, whom she is
committed to take all the way to the top pushing Jamaica
to the forefront of the classical World.
An American Violinist and International String Coach, Dr.
Walker started her work in Jamaica in 1993 as a guest
lecturer at Northern Caribbean University in Mandeville
before relocating to the island in 1997 to immerse herself
in the culture and work with what she considers one of
the best natural musical talents worldwide.
In 2002, Dr. Walker returned to the United States to pursue her Doctorate in Violin Performance and Pedagogy
and used her prior work in Jamaica as the subject of her
doctoral project, titled Tropical RhythmA String Project
in Jamaica. Upon completing her doctorate in 2004, she
was awarded a Fulbright scholarship by the US Government as a String Music Performance Specialist to Honduras, following which she was appointed Chairman for
judges of violin competitions in the USA. She returned to
Jamaica in 2008 to start the Jamaica Symphony Orchestra (JSO), which was an instant success and paved the
way for other orchestras on the island.

Dr. Walker working with Isis Payne and Drew Burton of the Pre-Orchestra.

To date, Dr. Walker has trained musicians on every continent and her rare musical talent has left a lasting impression on several major cities around the World, including
Paris where she recently coached over 300 young musicians from 70 nationalities.

Members of the Pre-School Orchestra. L-R: Jacob Chen, Laila Chen,

Zara Walker

Since returning to Jamaica in March this year, Dr. Walker

has raised the standard of the Jamaica Symphony Orchestra to a professional level (FRSM) and developed
five levelled orchestras ranging from beginners to preprofessional as a pathway to the JSO. She also continues to coach musicians around the world by Skype, and
a number of her current Jamaican students are being
groomed to compete in the United States early next year.
Dr. Walker working with members of the High School Orchestra. L-R: Ashley
Haynes, Athina Stewart and Rebekah Smikles