MONTEGO BAY, St James — More than 400 patrons gathered at Half Moon Conference Centre in the parish on Sunday, July 5, for The Fusion, the third annual recital presented by A Touch of Classical Infusion.

O’Neila Thompson demonstrates her prowess on the violin with Seitz’s Student Concerto No I Movements 1 & 2 with A Touch of Classical Infusion Director Alex Grey on piano.

According to Director Alex Grey, the evening represented a broader vision to strengthen western Jamaica’s musical ecosystem by developing young musicians, supporting music educators, preserving musical heritage, and advocating for world-class performance spaces.

“Jamaica’s global cultural identity has been built through music,” said Grey. “This recital is our annual reminder that the next generation of musicians is already here in western Jamaica. Our responsibility is to ensure they have the teachers, instruments, and performance opportunities to carry that legacy forward.”

Nolan Collignon plays piano while singing A Whole New World from Disney’s Aladdin soundtrack with bassist Theodore Cattan supporting in the background.

The diversity of this year’s programme marked a significant evolution for the organisation. Earlier stagings centred on piano performances, but the latest production incorporated violin training, vocal performances, ensemble pieces, along with collaborations between students and established musicians.

Phillip Newman on piano.

The calibre of performances prompted special guest Councillor Richard Vernon, mayor of Montego Bay, to suggest that the city is overdue for a dedicated performing arts venue, describing the need for a “mini opera house” that would better support the region’s growing artistic community.

Concertmaster and programme violin tutor Jovani Williams opens the programme with a Jamaican medley..

Among the evening’s standout performers was 10-year-old multiple Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) gold medallist Nolan Collignon, whose vocal and piano renditions of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah and Disney’s A Whole New World drew enthusiastic applause.

The evening’s youngest performer, seven-year-old Yixin Chen does Sparkling Splashes & Smooth Water _ Inter-City Stomp by Barbara Arens & Christopher Norton.

Eleven-year-old Kaleb Young, a multiple JCDC gold medallist in piano, made an impressive violin debut with Seitz’s
Student Concerto No. II, Movement 3, while sixth-form student O’Neila Thompson demonstrated the technical confidence and musical maturity that the programme is now cultivating among its young string players.

The programme also showcased the importance of mentorship, with accomplished musicians, including concertmaster Jovani Williams, classical musician Philip Newman, and vocal coach Ophelia Carter, performing alongside the young musicians. Williams, who doubles as the programme’s violin tutor, opened the evening with a Jamaican medley.

Kaleb Young performs Seitz’s Student Concerto No (1). II, Movement 3 with A Touch of Classical Infusion Director Alex Grey on piano.photo

One of the evening’s most significant announcements came as an investment in the future of music education. The three members of the live backing band — Daniel Rankine, Michael Hudson and Theodore Cattan — and vocalist Ezrena Williams received $300,000 towards their studies at Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College.

Members of the audience express their delight with the performances.

Funded through proceeds from ticket sales and a contribution from the St James East Central Constituency Development Fund, the grants reflect the organisation’s commitment to ensuring talented musicians can continue as educators and mentors in western Jamaica rather than feeling compelled to relocate.

Anna-Lee Hazle had the audience singing along with her soulful guitar rendition of Lionel Richie’s Stuck on You.

“Training exceptional young musicians is only one part of the equation,” Grey said. “We want to ensure the West continues to produce excellent music teachers who will inspire the generations that follow.”

The audience is transfixed.

That commitment extends beyond education. One of the grand pianos featured during the recital was painstakingly restored by Grey, organ builder Errol Stephens, and musician Philip Newman, as part of the organisation’s wider efforts to preserve the musical infrastructure that supports performance and education in western Jamaica.

“If western Jamaica is to continue contributing to Jamaica’s musical legacy we must also build the ecosystem around music learners, which includes world-class instruments for their use,” Grey said.

The audience did not withhold the applause.

The event was made possible through the support of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport; Half Moon; LCH Developments; Rose Hall Developments; Fontana; Western Mirror; and Pure Country.