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Digicel Foundation backs National Youth Orchestra

Published:Thursday | November 18, 2010 | 12:00 AM
From left: NYOJ choir member Britney Younger, NYOJ chairman Dr Nigel Clarke, Digicel Foundation executive General Robert Neish, Her Excellency Celsa Nuño, Digicel Foundation directors, Karlene Dawson and Trisha Thompson speak during a fund-raising concert at the Stella Maris Complex on Sunday. - Marcia Rowe photos

Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

It was a moment of merriment for the stakeholders of the National Youth Orchestra of Jamaica (NYOJ) last Sunday as they shared, in a preshow press conference of some sort, their involvement and achievements with the 11-month-old St Andrew Technical High School-based orchestra. The venue was the Stella Maris Complex.

Among those on hand were NYOJ instructors and director; representatives from the Digicel Foundation, and the recently appointed ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to Jamaica, Her Excellency Celsa Nuño.

Nuño told The Gleaner that her embassy's contribution to the programme was through financial support, as well as to have instructors come in occasionally.

"We will help in any way we can," she concluded.

The ambassador has only been on the job for a month but already loves Jamaica.

"It is wonderful. The staff has been very warm towards me," she said of the job so far.

Programme

The Digicel Foundation, the organiser of the press conference and one of the sponsors of the concert, has donated 30 instruments - brass, wood and percussion.

General Robert Neish, executive director of the foundation, explained how his organisation became involved with NYOJ.

"They approached us and we were attracted by the comprehensive programme. It is a programme that reaches kids at risk and it teaches life skills such as discipline, punctuality and study," he said.

Neish went on to say that his foundation had three areas of focus: education, cultural and social, and that the Digicel Foundation works through community.

Patrick Lynch, director of NYOJ, finds the project exciting and wonderful as it gives the participants a career. He believed that the concert was a good idea as the orchestra needed to be exposed on a regular basis.

Aisha Robinson, violin instructor, shared what was rewarding for her in the programme.

"It is rewarding when they get it right - holding the violin properly," she said.

Robinson also explained that the violin section met twice per week.

The NYOJ is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation, modelled on the Venezuelan El Siestema orchestra.

"Its mission is to develop youth orchestra in Jamaica, using classical music as a tool to inspire, empower and enhance the lives of children from challenged communities."