It was an evening filled with beautiful melodies and rhythmic performances, as the Barbados and Toronto Alumni Associations for the Alexandra School held their annual fundraising concert entitled: A Celebration of Excellence – Together as One.
The concert, which was held virtually this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, once again saw several old scholars from the St. Peter institution, and friends, coming together once again to raise much needed funds for the school.
Starting off the evening in an impressive way, was a duet by two of the school’s finest singers on its current roster, Faith Marshall and Aleeka Hinds who performed the Coplay hit song, Fix You. Marshall who would have placed second in the St. Lucy Parish Talent Show, and Hinds who received a Merit in Popular Music Vocals from the London College of Music, performed well together, with the only downside being their limited time on the stage.
Ravon Ramsay, winner of the 2016 Barbados Secondary School Singing Competition delivered a rousing rendition of the gospel favourite What a beautiful Name, much to the delight of the online audience. His performance was powerful and filled with confidence, and proved that Ramsay is definitely one to watch in the future.
Experienced saxophonist and trumpeter Romaro Greaves and Kevyn Lynch respectively, who have shared the stage numerous times with esteemed local music stalwarts such as Nicholas Branker, Arturo Tappin, Alison Hinds, Edwin Yearwood and other international acts, truly needed no introduction, as they delivered smooth jazz renditions of Lean on Me and Brighter Days.
Former host of Hilton’s Open Mic Night and second runner-up contestant of the recently held Baje to the World Talent Show, Sunrokk, also made an appearance during the night with founding member of the Rock band Sundown Superhero, Craig Haniff. Together they performed their new rock single, One Life which is an uplifting piece dedicated to the island’s experience with the pandemic over the last year.
Local musical icon, Edwin ‘The General’ Yearwood, ended the night on a high, with a melody of his greatest hits which included Wet Me, Home Sweet Home, French Kiss and Oil Pumpin’, which visibly delighted the crown who were tuned in via Zoom.
This year’s concert, though hampered by being a no in-person event, was a successful show by all accounts, and proved to be a welcome experience for those who have been missing the ability to see live performances from local creatives. (SB)
