The 2009 graduation of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMC), held recently at the Little Theatre, was no ordinary matriculation ceremony.

Under the theme Boldness, Power, Magic… The Way Forward the graduation ceremony was a lavish production directed by Trevor Nairne and written by Owen ‘Blakka’ Ellis.

The ceremony began with a grand opening entitled Vibration of Welcome which included a chorale comprising students parading on to an impressive set designed by Ron Steger, with the banners representing the four schools — visuals arts, dance, drama and music.

The audience was informed of the achievements and continued progress of the college in the report, presented by the principal, Burchell Duhaney. He highlighted infrastructural development, the EMC/OSU partnership for the masters programme, the staging of the College’s first international conference, Dance and the Child International (daCi).

Duhaney also spoke about future plans of the college which includes a state-of-the-art digital recording studio and the construction of a multi-purpose performing arts centre. He also acknowledged and paid tribute to the late Trevor Rhone, Wycliffe Bennett and Sonny Bradshaw. He left the graduates with the encouraging words, “there comes a time when you must stand alone and be confident, as well as to follow your dreams. Go forth and create, persevere and achieve”. Artistic expressions through music, dance and drama interspersed with the speeches and presentations kept the audience entertained. The ceremony was special as the first batch of students enrolled in the EMC/Ohio State University (OSU) Masters of Art in Art Education programme was presented with degrees. Befittingly, Professor L Sthur, Chair of OSU’s Art Education Department was the guest speaker.

Duhaney also spoke about future plans of the college which includes a state-of-the-art digital recording studio and the construction of a multi-purpose performing arts centre. He also acknowledged and paid tribute to the late Trevor Rhone, Wycliffe Bennett and Sonny Bradshaw. He left the graduates with the encouraging words, “there comes a time when you must stand alone and be confident, as well as to follow your dreams. Go forth and create, persevere and achieve”. Artistic expressions through music, dance and drama interspersed with the speeches and presentations kept the audience entertained. The ceremony was special as the first batch of students enrolled in the EMC/Ohio State University (OSU) Masters of Art in Art Education programme was presented with degrees. Befittingly, Professor L Sthur, Chair of OSU’s Art Education Department was the guest speaker.

“You have joined the elite, the 10% of the world with an advanced degree. You have the paper to walk through the door of opportunity, it may be a crack, and you may have to shove your foot through it. However, with privilege and status comes responsibility.” Her speech was warmly received by the audience as she kept the motivating but light-hearted atmosphere of the ceremony.

Valedictorian, Joan Phillips from the School of Music, reminded fellow graduates that as they “walk through the doors of one stage of their lives unto the next…their role as artistes on the Jamaican stage is to make a change, make a difference”.

The ceremony came to a close with a grand finale encouraging the graduates, through song and dance, to “create, persevere and achieve”.

Special guests in attendance were Leonie Forbes, Barbara Gloudon, Myrna Hague-Bradshaw, Dr Maria Smith, Dr Ethley London, Professor and Dr Neville Ying, Dr Joy Royal, Pat Ramsay, Lenford Salmon, Debbie Salmon, Winsom Reid and Barbara Duhaney.