White
THE INSTITUTE of Jamaica extends congratulations to the recently knighted, Jamaican-born and world-renowned bass baritone vocalist Sir Willard White. To be conferred with this distinguished honour by the Queen of England, reflects the established eminence of this highly trained musician, who is highly regarded as one of the world's greatest baritone singers.
Cognisant of his musical prowess, the Institute of Jamaica had in 1987, awarded Sir Willard White with the Silver Musgrave Medal for outstanding merit in the field of music. However, on the basis of his continued successes and the consistent level of excellence that he displayed, the Council of the Institute of Jamaica subsequently upgraded this honour in 1995, awarding him the Gold Musgrave Medal for Distinguished Eminence in the field of Music.
Sir Willard's immeasurable success has been achieved through perseverance and training received at the Jamaica School of Music, (now part of the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts) and the Julliard School of Music in New York. Launching his career in 1974, he made his international debut with the New York City Opera as Coline in Puccini's La Boheme. Sir Willard has since delivered first-class operatic music to audiences in countries such as Great Britain, France, Czechoslovakia, Spain, Norway, Canada, Austria and Israel.
The Institute of Jamaica wishes for Sir Willard White continued success in his musical career, as he stamps his indelible mark in the genres of operatic and classical music, with his superb bass-baritone voice and refined vocal performances.
