Morgan State University choir community:
Our
Jamaican tour comes to an end! Although a short tour, with an
extraordinary cultural exchange component for both the choir to learn
the history and culture of Jamaica, and the people of Jamaica to hear
the choir and learn of the great Morgan State University, it was clear
yesterday that one of the primary reasons for the invitation was to
perform for Ambassador Pamela E. Bridgewater's big Fourth of July State
Dinner bash at her residence on yesterday, July 2, 2012. I am told that
this dinner was one of the biggest events on the island in quite some
time. Unfortunately, you were only there if the Ambassador invited you
personally. The Ambassador invited absolutely every governmental
official on the island to this celebration of the 236th anniversary of
the independence of the United States of America. Jamaica does not have
a President, but the country does have a Prime Minister as chief
executive, the Honorable Portia Simpson Miller who attended the event,
only moments after landing from an international flight. Every member
of her appointed cabinet was present, including Morgan alumnus Anthony
Hylton, Minister of Commerce and Industry.
Please
see attached program from last evening. Fortunately, the evening was
about as cool and clear as one could have hoped for during the first
days of July in Jamaica. At 6PM, a short ceremony before dinner began
with the posting of the colors by the US Marine Corps Color Guard. The
National anthems of both Jamaica and United States were played. The
first remarks were given by His Excellency - Governor General, Sir
Patrick Allen - who is the Queen's representative on the island of
Jamaica - a mostly ceremonial position. Ambassador Bridgewater welcomed
everyone to her humble residence - please see photos of how humble the
residence was. The Ambassador's U.S. theme for the Jamaican Golden
Anniversary was "Celebrating the Ties That Bind: 50 Years of
Friendship". She gave a brief account of the relationship that the
United States had with Jamaica since 1962. Finally, the Honorable
Portia Simpson Miller, Jamaica's Prime Minister gave remarks, sharing
with the audience the diplomatic love-affair between Jamaica and the
United States - much because of the recent leadership of Ambassador
Pamela E. Bridgewater - former Morgan State University political science
faculty member.
After
the opening short ceremony, the invited guests then preceded to walk to
a tent where a formal state dinner was served. The choir did not eat
with the VIP's, however did receive another fine meal on the patio,
prepared by the Ambassador's executive chef. At 8PM, after dinner was
completely served, the guests then moved to entertainment tent, with a
clear transparent ceiling to see the stars, where the Morgan State
University Choir presentation was made. The tent was a little warm for
the performers, but was needed as a contingency for rain - much too big
an event to be rained out! We only sang music that was requested by the
Ambassador from our earlier programs. In addition to the repertoire in
earlier programs, the Ambassador specifically asked if we could sing
Nathan Carter's "Great is Thy Faithfulness". Her husband, a baptist
minister from North Carolina, especially enjoyed this selection.
Throughout the program, one could see that she was so very proud of her
Morgan State Choir. As with our recent tour to Brazil, I programmed
Charles Dickerson's "I Have a Dream" based on the immortal "I Have a
Dream" speech given by Martin Luther King. Although this piece was
successful at every concert, as Dr. King's speech from 1963 still
resonates around the world, even to the shores of distant Jamaica; last
evening, much of the audience was American from the staff of the US
Embassy to Jamaica and/or guests who had American interests at heart and
especially appreciated this offering of freedom. As this piece was
especially selected by the Ambassador, she crafted her opening
ceremonial remarks to take advantage of this King text.
At
the end the emcee said that Ambassador Bridgewater would be pressed to
surpass this event in the future. I was especially honored as Prime
Minister Portia Simpson Miller, who was seated at the right hand of the
Ambassador, approached me immediately after the concert, embraced me
despite my stickiness from performing an hour concert in a relatively
closed area, kissed me on my cheek, expressed her satisfaction, and
wished the choir and me only the best!
What
an incredible honor, to be brought all the way from the United States
to participate in this international event! What a life lesson in
political science!
If
this evening were not special enough, Rita Marley, Bob Marley's wife
attended the event and visited with the choir. She enjoyed the evening,
and only asked that the next time the choir visits Jamaica, to sing her
husband's famous song: "One Love". See photos attached with Rita
Marley. Also see photos with Minister Anthony Hylton, his classmate
Yvette Taylor who was a mentee of Pamela Bridgewater, and her sister
who taught at Morgan a few years ago in the English department, Dr.
Tulani Salahdin. This was a true Morgan reunion!
As
we had several invitations from those who were in attendance to return
to Jamaica, I do not believe that this will be our last time in this
beautiful country. The closing words of the evening were, in the best
spirit of international competition sports: "the USA will see Jamaica
at the London Olympics track and field events, and may the best team
win!" What a great camaraderie!
Eric Conway, D.M.A.
Fine and Performing Arts Department, Chairperson
Morgan State University
