Reprinted from Jamaica Observer
Kingston College Chapel Choir (KCCC) hosted its first annual high school choral festival from April 3, 2024 through April 7, 2024.
The festival aims at fostering and developing choral music in schools; its study and performance across the island.
The first few days of the festival are a series of choral clinics for all the participating students.
The theme of this festival ‘We are one, we are the world!’ encompasses the mission of helping to build strong communities through schools, the Church, and civic associations.
The other institutions already on board include St Hugh’s High School, Calabar High School, and St Hilda’s High School.
Donald C Morris will be the first clinician and festival choir director.
Morris is a retired music director of the renowned Newark Boys Chorus School in Newark, New Jersey, USA. Himself a graduate of the KCCC, he was also the first old boy to hold the post of choir director of the choir.
The festival culminated at 4:00 pm on Sunday, April 7 in a concert featuring all the participating high school choirs.
This free concert was open to the public and was held at St Augustine Chapel on the grounds of Kingston College, North Street campus.
KCCC has had a long history of excellence in choral music deeply associated with its home base, St Augustine Chapel, which houses the newly restored pipe organ.
This has been a fertile musical training ground for the boys and young men who have participate in the choral music programme, offered by the KCCC.