Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • Videos
  • Career & Education
  • Classifieds
  • All Woman
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Design Week
A holy night with the University Singers
Soloist Althea Sinclair (right) was the evening’s standout soloist earningraptuous applause for O Holy Night.
Entertainment
Richard Johnson  
December 18, 2010

A holy night with the University Singers

HOLIDAY music by Bach, Handel, Wilcocks and Jamaica’s own Dexter and Halliburton, reverberated off the walls of the centuries-old chapel at the University of the West Indies last Wednesday.

The event was the eagerly anticipated annual Evening with the University Singers, sponsored by the Bank of Jamaica.

Ever a popular holiday event, the chapel and the surrounding gardens were filled to capacity, as music lovers turned out to be treated to the high standard of music that this choir is known for, and they were not disappointed.

From the opening notes, through rising crescendos, tight harmonies and that fullbodied choral treatment from the ‘Singers’, the audience was fed a feast of holiday music fit for royalty.

The truth is, this group rarely, if ever, gives a bad performance. This must be credited to the individual strengths of the members, who add texture and tone to the choral offerings, while capable of delivering standout solo presentations.

This year’s solo standout must go to Althea Sinclair. A member of the ‘Singers’ for some time, she has definitely come into her own and truly deserved her moment in the spotlight. With two pieces on the programme, she impressed when she led the chorus with a Christmas medley which included, What Child Is This, Christmastide and Hallelujah Amen. However, her goose-pimple moment was to come in O Holy Night.

The popular carol, which has become a University Singers staple, saw Sinclair stepping into the realm of the former soloist with the group, Raymonde Rohan. Sinclair’s charm lies in the drama she brings to the presentation which is reminiscent of opera diva Jessye Norman, plus she has a great soprano voice to boot.

The outstanding solos continued with Carolyn Reid-Cameron’s rendition of Away in a Manger. Reid-Cameron, who has been with the University Singers since 1986, is no stranger to solos and has even burst into tears having been so overcome by her own performance. On Wednesday evening, she was in fine form, bringing a freshness to this old carol.

Other impressive performances came with Dominick Frazer’s Sleep Holy Child. His soothing barritone voice was complimented to great effect, by an all-male chorus. Monique Johnson on Gesu Bambino was a treat to listen to, but not visually engaging, unlike Sinclair. This ingenue will undoubtedly come into her own with more performances and solos.

Ding Dong Merrily on High was another of the evenings treats. The directors chose the perfect blend of ten voices, covering soprano, alto, tenor and bass, for a spirited rendition which earned the audience’s adoration as the voices raised Gloria in Excelsis.

The dimunitive Marcelle Thomas was not to be outdone as she was paired with the evenings guests — the St Hugh’s Preparatory School choir — on Manger & Straw. The innocence of young voices against the sounds of a polished alto, deserved the applause it received.

The audience, inside the Chapel, as well as those on the outside, were not left out of the proceedings. However, ahead of O Holy Night, conductor Franlkin Halliburton cautioned his audience against ‘overexuberance’ which he warned might throw off his soloist, but they were included in the singing of the chorus. The audience also had their moment with The Virgin Mary had a Baby Boy. Halliburton had to ‘wheel up’ this song to note, “this carol cannot be sung, without movement”, and with that the entire chapel began to sway to the popular tune.

If there is one negative about this event, it is the fact that this calendar event has clearly, yet sadly, outgrown the beautiful University Chapel. As part of the thrust to revive downtown Kingston, and considering that the Bank of Jamaica, the evening’s sponsor, is headquartered in that section of the city, the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kingston Parish Church or a refurbished Ward Theatre could be looked at as a future venue.

 

The male voices of the university Singers lead the candlelight procession whichopened the second half of the presentation.
The ‘Singers’ and choir from the St Hugh’s Preparatory school raise O HolyNight/ That Night. (Photos: Lionel Rookwood)

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

PNP urges gov’t to outline national industrial strategy
Latest News, News
PNP urges gov’t to outline national industrial strategy
September 14, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The People’s National Party (PNP) is calling on the Government to urgently outline a clear industrial strategy, warning that the l...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Newcomers Tru Juice ambush Mt Pleasant for historic JPL win
Latest News, Sports
Newcomers Tru Juice ambush Mt Pleasant for historic JPL win
September 13, 2026
ST CATHERINE, Jamaica – Daniel Roberts and Rodave Murray both scored braces as newly promoted Tru Juice FC stunned Mt Pleasant FA 4-0 in their first-e...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
St Kitts PM confirms stroke, but recovering well
Latest News, Regional
St Kitts PM confirms stroke, but recovering well
September 13, 2026
FLORIDA, United States (CMC) – St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew confirmed Sunday that he had suffered a stroke late last month but t...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
‘Tittyman’ among two charged in early morning break-in
Latest News, News
‘Tittyman’ among two charged in early morning break-in
September 13, 2026
ST CATHERINE, Jamaica — Two men have been charged with burglary after allegedly breaking into a woman’s Old Harbour Bay home with a machete and trying...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
VaChikepe The Poet to release new album
Entertainment, Latest News
VaChikepe The Poet to release new album
September 13, 2026
On October 28, VaChikepe The Poet will release A Dollar, a seven-song album that hears him expressing his thoughts in English for the first time. The ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Jefferson-Wooden, Bednarek claim classy Ultimate sprint doubles
Latest News, Sports
Jefferson-Wooden, Bednarek claim classy Ultimate sprint doubles
September 13, 2026
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AFP) — The United States (US) pair of Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Kenny Bednarek nailed Ultimate Championship sprint doubles after...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Kane edges Bayern past Elversberg in Bundesliga
Latest News, Sports
Kane edges Bayern past Elversberg in Bundesliga
September 13, 2026
BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — Harry Kane scored his first goal of the season to help Bayern Munich edge to a 2-1 win at promoted Elversberg in the Bundeslig...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Haaland fires 10-man Man City to famous win at Man Utd
Latest News, Sports
Haaland fires 10-man Man City to famous win at Man Utd
September 13, 2026
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) — Erling Haaland fired 10-man Manchester City to a memorable 1-0 victory over Manchester United despite Phil Foden's ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct