Gay Magnus (right), director of music at Alpha School of Music, and Dr Anthony E Munroe (second left), president of Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), shake on signing the memorandum of understanding between the schools on Friday, June 6, 2025. The MOU was witnessed at Alpha’s South Camp Road campus by (from left) BMCC Vice-President of Enrolment Management Dr Sanjay Ramdath; community relations officer at the Consulate General of Jamaica – New York Christopher Benjamin; Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Kamina Johnson Smith; and Sisters of Mercy Jamaica CEO Marcia Tai Chun.

The agreement will allow for students from each school to participate and register for certain classes at the other. Initially the focus will be on asynchronous courses and collaborative lecture series that bridge the courses from both schools. Alpha’s faculty will lead sessions on the origins and evolution of ska and other Jamaican genres providing insight into Jamaica’s rich musical heritage. BMCC will lead sessions on music history including jazz to both BMCC and Alpha students through virtual sessions.