The St. Andrew High School auditorium came alive with exceptional performances on Saturday night as young musicians took centre stage at the musical evening featuring Festival Medallists. Twelve-year-old Orette Rhoden delivered a standout piano rendition of Clementi – Sonata Opus 36, No. 6 in D Major, earning him the prestigious Howard Cooke Award Trophy for Excellence. The night celebrated Jamaica’s vibrant musical talent, with performances from soloists, choirs, and instrumentalists.

Published Tuesday, July 17,1973 

Orette Rhoden gets Howard Cooke Trophy

Talented twelve-year-old Orette Rhoden added another distinction to his musical career with his award-winning piano rendition of Clementi – Sonata Opus 36, No. 6 in D Major at the musical concert featuring Festival Medallists at the St. Andrew High School auditorium last Saturday night.

Orette received the Howard Cooke Award Trophy for Excellence, the highest musical award in the Festival Competition. He had already won a silver and a gold medal in the 1973 Music Festival. His virtuoso performance on Saturday was roundly applauded by an appreciative audience.

Last year’s winner of the trophy, Paul Shaw, was given honourable mention by adjudicator Mr. Roland Morris and received prolonged applause for his interpretation of two movements from Beethoven’s Opus 17 in F Major.

Mr. Morris, in announcing the trophy winners, indicated that Festival organisers “should be proud of the far-reaching effects of the Festival on the community.” He also expressed pleasure at the quality of the competition and mentioned the “tremendously encouraging signs” he had seen for Jamaican music. In reviewing the night’s performances, Mr. Morris said it was a tremendous musical thrill, and two or three of the performances left him in “a state of excitement.”

Other medallists appearing on the night’s programme were double gold medallist Michele Mead in a duet with Karen Alphonse, the Mona Prep School Boys’ Choir, Richard Crooks (treble solo), Doris Waite (contralto solo), the Methodist Youth Choir, the Ardenne Choir, Karen Allen (guitar solo), and June Thompson (contralto solo).
Rhoden was trained at Rita Cooke’s studio.

The Hon. Howard Cooke, Minister of Pensions and Social Security, presented the trophy and medals at the end of the evening’s programme.
 

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