IN marking its 10th anniversary, the Culture Health Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund hosted a Classical Evening with Chase at the Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston, St Andrew, on Sunday.

In his welcome speech, CHASE chairman Carlton Davis stressed the need for the arts to be more widely exposed to people of all classes, including the young.

“It’s not widely known as it should be … our sons and daughters have made their mark in this genre,” he said.

The evening saw outstanding performances from Glenmuir High School Choir, soprano Danielle Watson, and violin player Nadje Leslie.

The Clarendon-based school choir, complemented by synchronised movements, did Go Down Moses (Let My People Go), I Am and Lift Ev’ry Voice And Sing.

Watson, a principal soprano with Nexus Performing Arts Company of Jamaica (which later performed), was the evening’s the busiest performer, taking the stage four times.

With her lovely voice, she delivered Ave Maria, Omio Babino Caro and Oh What A Beautiful City.

Other performers for the evening were Nomali Lumsden, a music educator at Edna Manley and Mico University; The Wolmer’s Boys Band with their musical director Sharee Heslop, who infused a lot of energy into her stint on stage; National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica featuring Terry-Ann Dennison and Mark Phinn in The Beloven; and Kerry-Ann Henry in Caged.