THE EDITOR, Sir:"BEAUTY WILL save the world". These words by Russian writer Dostoevsky came to my mind as I attended the Annual Gala Concert at the Immaculate Conception High School on Saturday, December 11.
The beauty of music, drama, and dance performed by the young artists made me forget about my other engagement for the evening. I was impressed by their skills, stage presence, overall maturity in performance and demeanour. Having worked at a Junior High school in Detroit for 12 years, I am perfectly aware of the challenges of teaching music and arts to young adults. Shyness, stage fright, uncertainty about one's own talent are often hard to overcome in this age.
And yet I heard very convincing solo violin playing and solo singing; the first movement of J.S. Bach's Brandenburg Concerto in G Major was performed without a conductor in the best traditions of concerto grosso, when groups of instruments rather than individual musicians are soloing. It is hard to single out a particular instrumental, choral, choreographic performance or drama that I enjoyed the most.
The whole concert was definitely a fine presentation of young Jamaican talents for which they and their teachers deserve high accolades. Bravo!
I am, etc.,
DMITRI TARAKHOVSKY
U.S. Embassy
