BCC students drum up new beats after 30-year wait

For over three decades, aspiring musicians at Barbados Community College (BCC) have been dancing to the beat of the same old drum. Come the start of the new school year in September, these students will no longer have to keep time on a drum kit that’s older than them.

Sagicor and the Barbados Jazz Society have donated a brand-new kit to the BCC, in what Paul Inniss, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Sagicor Life Inc (Barbados), described as an investment in the pupils’ education.

“Music is not merely just an art form, it is a universal language that resonates with everyone. This donation not only enriches the college’s music programme but also exemplifies Sagicor’s ongoing commitment to fostering educational and cultural growth within the community,” Gittens, a musician, said.

Roger Gittens, Head of the Music Department at BCC, expressed his gratitude for the upgrade.

“For years, the music room housed a drum set from the nineties, which had seen countless students through their musical journey. This donation was not just an upgrade, but a symbol of renewed hope and inspiration for future generations,” Gittens stressed.

The donation highlights the power of community partnerships, said Dale Thorpe, President of the Barbados Jazz Society, noting, “When organisations come together, we can achieve far more for schools and communities than we could alone.”

With the BCC’s music room set to resound with crisp beats and renewed enthusiasm, Gittens has already extended an invitation for the donors to attend future performances, promising them a chance to “see the fruits of your labour”. (PR)