THE Jamaica Military Band, as part of its 90th anniversary celebrations, singled out five stalwarts for over 40 years of service to the prestigious institution at its anniversary concert last Sunday at the Hope Botanical Gardens, St Andrew.

“We wanted to honour these stalwarts because of the foundation they have set for us. Such experience, talent and leadership helped us to build the band and make it even better for those to come,” said Warrant Officer Class 1 Albert Shaun Hird, the band’s acting director of music.

Honoured for 40 years of service were: Lieutenant Commander John McFarlane, former commanding officer of the Coast Guard and the Air Wing; Retired Major Joseph Williams, a former director of music for the band who joined the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) in the 1950s; Patricia Gooden, a soprano singer, and Joan Thompson-Lawson, a contralto singer. Retired Warrant Officer Class One Victor Hemans, a former bandmaster, was honoured for serving more than 25 years.

“My very first recording with the Military Band was on (the now defunct)

JBC TV back in the early 60s, and my participation with them has been excellent. The Jamaica Military Band has always maintained a high standard of performance and I find singing with them to be very enjoyable,” said Lt Commander McFarlane.

Williams, who had the distinction of being the first native Jamaican director of music, is remembered as the bandmaster took the band on many tours to Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean, and was given the keys to the City of Kingston.

“Over the years, we could look forward to providing musicians to the public. Whenever there was a need for musicians, you could always come to the Jamaica Military Band. The fact that it has been in existence for such a long time is testimony to the dedication of the players and the people whose responsibility it is to keep it together,” said Williams, who currently lectures in music at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.

Both Thompson-Lawson and Gooden sang as soloists at the Poppy Appeal Concerts while serving the band. Thompson-Lawson lectures at the Edna Manley College, and Gooden now organises a music programme at the Maxfield Park Children’s Home in Kingston.

Hemans, who currently resides in the Cayman Islands, travelled to Jamaica to celebrate the 90th anniversary with his colleagues. He also gave the audience a complimentary piece as conductor of the JDF Massed Bands.

Hird used the occasion to highlight the strides made by women, noting that the band made history in 2004 by accepting six female players for the very first time.

“They joined the JDF as infantry soldiers; we took them in the band and trained them and they have done so well that we promoted two of them — Lance Corporal Tracy-Ann Williams and Lance Corporal Julian Parchment,” said Hird.