World-renowned St Lucian saxophonist Luther François says he still has much to give back to Jamaica following his performance at the Music Unites Jamaica Foundation (MUJF) 30th anniversary celebration concert ‘A Moment of Music with Luther François and Friends’.

The concert, held under the patronage of Honorary Consul of Saint Lucia to Jamaica Vitus Evans at Hope Gardens, featured performances by François, Dean Fraser, Boris Gardiner, Charmaine Limonius, Duane Stephenson, and Janine Jkuhl, all backed by the E-Park Band.

The evening was expertly guided St Lucian, media personality Janella Precius.

MUJF Deputy Director Janine Coombs said she is eternally grateful for the excellence of the production team, performers, and the band.

“This concert was a wonderful reunion for Caribbean music and culture, and we’re proud of the amount of support we received, which made it possible to offer the event free to everyone. We believe that music and especially live music is also about community, about cultural exchange, and giving something meaningful to people,” she said.

François shared that his time immersing himself in music while studying in Jamaica during his youth, including time spent under the tutelage of legendary Jamaican music educators Marjorie Whylie and Peter Ashbourne, as well as performing with legends such as Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, contributed significantly to his development.

“We plan on doing many more cultural exchanges between both countries. I still owe Jamaica a debt, and I will make sure it’s paid,” said François adding he aims to inspire the next generation of musicians from both countries, equipping them to make an even bigger global impact in music.

François concluded the first leg of this exchange event by personally conducting a series of music workshops at his alma mater, the School of Music at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts and at Alpha School of Music. The workshops were attended by over 80 participants from diverse musical backgrounds, including members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force Band, the Jamaica Defence Force, UWI Classical & Jazz Ensemble (CAJE), and Alpha Community Band members.

On Tuesday, April 8, Peter Ashbourne travelled to St Lucia to conduct music workshops with various local bands and musical groups, including The Royal Police Band, the National Strings Orchestra, and St Joseph the Worker Youth Orchestra, as part of the cultural exchange event.

From left: Honorary Consul of St Lucia to Jamaica Vitus Evans, MUJF Deputy Director Janine Coombs, St Lucian national hero and saxophonist Luther François, MUJF Executive Director Rosina Moder, music educator Peter Ashbourne, and Nicole Ozier-Lafontaine.