Monday, July 2, 2012

Eric Conway: 3rd & 4th Days in Jamaica for Morgan State University Choir








Dr. Eric Conway, Director, Morgan State University Choir, www.msuchoir.org, writes:

Hello all,

We are thoroughly enjoying our time in Jamaica, albeit a short one.

Yesterday morning, we took a formal tour of a very old and historic community in Jamaica, Port Royal.  A short history - Port Royal was originally colonized by the Spanish.  In 1655, the British attacked and captured this town.  Because of its good natural harbor and key position on the island, it soon became a haven for pirates.  In 1692, a massive earthquake hit Port Royal, dumping most of it into the harbor.  Over 5000 died in the earthquake, or shortly thereafter due to injuries or disease.  The town was never the same after that.  Due to the many pirates that resided in this town, it was known as the "richest and wickedest city in the world!"  Many believed that the earthquake took their lives because of their sins. We visited and toured the fort that the British originally built to protect the town.  Ironically, the British actually welcomed the pirates, hoping that no other foreign nations would want to fight pirates in attempting to capture this desirous port city.  Of interest to us was the fact the most famous pirate that lived in Port Royal was Henry Morgan.  Just about everything in that community bears his name, which happens to be the name of our great university- no connection : )   Please see photos attached with many references to infamous Captain Morgan.

After the tour Anthony Hylton, the Morgan alumnus and Jamaican Minister of Industry and Commerce, hosted the choir with his family at Morgan's Harbour Hotel and Marina.  The lunch was tasty and served in a beautifully appointed room overlooking the harbor.  On the way to the marina we passed by St. Peters Church, said to be the the oldest church in the Western Hemisphere.  That evening, we gave a concert at Andrews Memorial Seventh-Day-Adventist Church.  We were well-received, performing immediately after their final Sabbath Worship.

Today, we traveled over two hours away from Kingston to Mandeville, Jamaica where we gave a concert at Northern Carribean University in a brand new lecture hall in their new Nursing School Building.  The Vice-President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Marilyn Anderson, hosted us.  This was a special day for her, as she officially became VPAA today, July 1, and we were her very first event.  The auditorium was filled beyond capacity.  Much to my surprise, the Ambassador traveled all the way from Kingston to hear us, as did Minister Hylton with his entire family.  It was very special for the choir to see the joy that these two successful Morgan products showed in their faces during our concert - one a former professor and one a graduate.   Again, we were very well-received.  We happened to meet many friends and family of Morgan State Univeristy, including the brother of Gilbert Morgan, the Director of Information Technology  at Morgan, who used to work for the University.  We also met a close friend of Dr. Glenn Phillips, History professor at Morgan. Again, we had another scrumptious meal served for us at the University.  We are certainly going to miss this Caribbean cuisine.   Please see photos attached detailing these last couple of days in Jamaica.

Eric Conway, D.M.A.
Fine and Performing Arts Department, Chairperson
Morgan State University

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