Harrison College honours two at Mosaic Concert launch

Two Mosaic icons were honoured yesterday at the auditorium of Harrison College (HC) during the school’s launch of its eighth edition of the Mosaic Concert Series: Nostalgia.

They were William “Smokey” Burke, who was awarded posthumously, and Dr. Nicholas Brancker, who was warmly saluted by HC students.

“Smokey” performed at Mosaic on four occasions and at the concert at Frank Collymore Hall, in 2019, the school paid a special tribute to him. Students heard that the Barbadian singer and songwriter was a graduate of Harrison College who toured the world with the Drifters back in the 1970s and lived for 20 years in Toronto, Canada, where he won a national music festival competition Du Maurier Search for Stars.

“Smokey” Burke’s daughter, Sharon Carter-Burke, who received a gift on the family’s behalf, said: “My dad loved this school and this morning celebrates a lot of what he loved – Harrison College, music, his musical family and his family. I’m very appreciative of you honouring him this morning.”

Meanwhile, Nicholas Brancker was surprised by a video clip of his daughter, Mackenzie Brancker, regaling his musical exploits and his impact on her musical journey.

The Grammy-nominated producer, writer, film score producer and prolific composer was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by The University of the West Indies in 2021, and was featured three times at Mosaic.

He was presented with the tribute done for him at Mosaic VI: Trailblazers. In accepting his token of appreciation, Brancker reminded the students that Harrison College was an important institution and urged them to believe in it. Noting that places like Harvard University were established long after the 290-year-old Harrison College, he told students that HC was “the most important educational institution in the Caribbean”. 

He stressed: “Make sure that when you leave here, you keep that tradition.”

Following the presentation to the Mosaic Honourees, first former Christina Edwards, who is set to perform at Mosaic VIII: Nostalgia, played a piano concerto entitled Juke and had the privilege of meeting and greeting Dr. Brancker.

Mosaic VIII: Nostalgia comes off at the Frank Collymore Hall on Sunday, March 26, at 7 p.m. and will celebrate Harrison College’s 290-year-old legacy. 

(BT/BGIS)