The rivalry between Kingston College and Calabar High School has dominated news cycles in recent weeks, but last Sunday they lifted their voices in unison at the 10th anniversary of Calabar’s Evening of Musical Excellence at that school’s auditorium.

Michael Roofe, chairman of the management committee at Calabar, was happy to have Kingston College as part of the show this year despite their intense rivalry.

“I made a call as a good leader should to their choir master just to test the waters, because I personally had my apprehensions that they would pull out the show and I would not have wanted them not to be here. So, when I called the choir master, we had a wonderful conversation. I really want to pay tribute to them because them being here shows the magnanimity of spirit they have. We have built up a strong relationship over the years and it was from that relationship why they came this evening and they gave an excellent performance,” Roofe told the Jamaica Observer.

Both schools performed twice together, earning strong applause from patrons. For Roofe, seeing the young men on stage was the stand-out of his evening.

“My highlight was definitely seeing Kingston College and Calabar’s performance, the two pieces, and I want to pay tribute to the accompanist,” he said.

Kingston College also gave stellar renditions of What A Wonderful World, arranged by John D Miller, and River in Judea arranged by John Leavitt.

In recent weeks, Calabar has seen a physical confrontation between a physics teacher and two of its star athletes. There was also a verbal attack on students of Kingston College during devotion at the school last Monday, for which administrators apologised.

“I have never been to a show like this. It was very good seeing KC and Calabar especially with everything going on, it was very nice. My highlight, however, was the tribute to Miss Lou performed by The Queen’s School and Calabar,” said Stephanie Murray, a patron.

The Queen’s School also gave entertaining performances of Your Spirit composed by Tasha Cobbs and Kierra Sheard and a reggae medley of Fade Away/ People Talk by Agent Sasco ft Romain Virgo and Etana. They later rejoined Calabar for the finale, belting a version of We Are The World.

Calarbar High School Band also paid tribute to singer Jimmy Cliff with renditions of Many Rivers To Cross, I Can See Clearly, You Can Get It If You Really Want and The Harder They Come. The school’s choir also paid homage to Stevie Wonder with classics such as Ribbon In The Sky, Isn’t She Lovely and Signed, Sealed, Delivered.

The evening also saw performances by soloist Jennifer Williams.

For next year, Roofe hopes to go bigger and better.

“I’m thinking I want to introduce readings and dance ’cause what we want to do is put together premier cultural groups to come together and perform, that has been the heritage and I want to continue that,” he told the Observer.

Proceeds from the event will aid Calabar’s music programme.