<![CDATA[Music Unites Jamaica Foundation

<![CDATA[Music Unites Jamaica Foundation - Projects]]>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:11:52 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Bryce-Davis delivers magical moments in music]]>Sun, 08 Feb 2026 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.musicunitesjamaica.com/projects1/bryce-davis-delivers-magical-moments-in-music

MULTI-AWARDING-WINNING operatist, Rock-blooded Raehann Bryce-Davis had a veritable homegoing from the opera stages of North America and Europe to the Vera Moody Concert Hall on the first day of February.

The internationally acclaimed mezzo soprano’s voice filled the space, reverberating across the campus of Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA) as the nation welcomed the celebration of Reggae Month.

The brainchild of Music Unites Jamaica Foundation — helmed by Rosina Moder, executive director, and Janine “Jkuhl” Coombs, her deputy — the staging of ‘A Moment of Music…’ was the culmination of vision and will meeting successful action.

Click to read full observer article

]]><![CDATA[Opera and Dancehall Play Together at School of Music]]>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.musicunitesjamaica.com/projects1/opera-and-dancehall-play-together-at-school-of-music

Traditionally, art music and popular music are placed at opposite ends of the musical spectrum. That changed on Sunday evening when opera and dancehall played together on stage at A Moment of Music with Raehann Bryce-Davison, held at the Vera Moody Concert Hall, Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA).

The meeting went surprisingly well, delighting the audience. This meant the fundamental question, “Does it work?” that a producer or director asks when trying something new on stage was answered in the affirmative.

Click to read full gleaner article

]]><![CDATA[Music fraternity pours out Della support]]>Sun, 27 Jul 2025 17:29:29 GMThttps://www.musicunitesjamaica.com/projects1/music-fraternity-pours-out-della-supportDella Manley has endured serious challenges since sustaining injuries in a motor accident last March in Montego Bay, but she smiled throughout a fund-raising show in her honour last Thursday at 22 Jerk in St Andrew.
The music community turned out in numbers at the popular venue to support the singer/musician who first came to prominence in 1997 with Ashes On The Window Sill, a well-received folk album produced by guitarist Ray Hitchins.

Click here to see full article on the Jamaica Observer

]]><![CDATA[‘The wonderful thing is that Della came!’]]>Sun, 27 Jul 2025 17:21:59 GMThttps://www.musicunitesjamaica.com/projects1/the-wonderful-thing-is-that-della-cameMusic Unites Jamaica Foundation fundraising concert for Della Manley

The smile on Marjorie Whylie’s face as she “buss a move” on her way out of 22 Jerk on Thursday night summed up the mood of the jam session. It was the fundraiser put on by Music Unites Jamaica Foundation for singer Della Manley, who was critically injured in a car crash in Montego Bay, St James, in March. And the icing on the cake, especially for organiser Rosina Moder, was the fact that Della Manley herself was present.

“The wonderful thing is that Della came ... she was here! I feel so rewarded,” an excited Rosina told The Sunday Gleaner. “I heard a whisper ... the family said ‘Maybe’. And then tonight I heard ‘She’s coming’. I feel rewarded from the universe ... from God. Here she is and we can see that she is recovering. I was sitting next to her ... she recognises all of us. She enjoyed the music ... when Boris Gardner was singing ... when DiMario was singing. She was not embarrassed, she felt honoured. It’s a gift from God that she is here after what she has gone through. I will never in my life forget this evening.”

READ THE FULL GLEANER ARTICLE HERE

]]><![CDATA[MUJF Performed at the 'Save Haven Home for the Aged']]>Sun, 27 Jul 2025 17:12:34 GMThttps://www.musicunitesjamaica.com/projects1/mujf-performed-at-the-save-haven-home-for-the-agedMusic Unites Jamaica Foundation's sponsored student Beverley Henry performed with Executive Director Rosina Christina Moder at the 'Save Haven Home for the Aged' on Friday, July 18th, 2025, during their 'Paint and Sip Cultural Showcase'.

]]><![CDATA[MUJF 30th Anniversary Concert]]>Sun, 30 Mar 2025 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.musicunitesjamaica.com/projects1/mujf-30th-anniversary-concert

]]><![CDATA[The Jamaican- Austrian Felsted Celebration Concert 2022 Livestream]]>Tue, 27 Dec 2022 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.musicunitesjamaica.com/projects1/the-jamaican-austrian-felsted-celebration-concert-2022-livestream

]]><![CDATA[Austrian-Jamaican Felsted Celebration in Graz]]>Thu, 22 Sep 2022 15:00:49 GMThttps://www.musicunitesjamaica.com/projects1/austrian-jamaican-felsted-celebration-in-graz

Photos taken in Graz during the 2022 Jamaican-Austrian Felsted concert.

]]><![CDATA[The Jamaican -Austrian Felsted Celebration]]>Thu, 10 Mar 2022 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.musicunitesjamaica.com/projects1/the-jamaican-austrian-felsted-celebrationMusic Unites Jamaica Foundation
Under the Patronage of Austrian Ambassador H.E. Sylvia Meier-Kajbic
presents
The Jamaican -Austrian Felsted Celebration
Launching the first complete YouTube recording of
Samuel Felsted’s ‘Six Voluntarys for Organ' by Austrian Organist Franz Zebinger
In Recognition of the 220th Anniversary of
Jamaica’s First Documented Composer Samuel Felsted
On Tuesday, March 29, 2022, 1 p.m., at the Kingston Parish Church

Another milestone in preserving and promoting the history of Jamaica’s Classical Music has been achieved, initiated by the Austrian-born musician Rosina Christina Moder, OD, who has performed and taught in Jamaica since 1985. It was Rosina’s original intention to invite prominent Austrian organist Franz Zebinger to Jamaica to play the complete set of ‘Six Voluntarys for Organ or Harpsichord’ by Jamaica’s first documented composer Samuel Felsted at the church of its origin, the Kingston Parish Church. Felsted served as organist at this church from 1783 until the time of his passing on March 29, 1802. However, due to the worldwide Covid crisis this plan was changed to Franz Zebinger’s recording of these six organ pieces for worldwide viewing on YouTube, on a baroque organ at the ‘Marienkirche’ in Gleisdorf, a town in the Austrian Province of Styria. This will be these Voluntarys’ inaugural performances in modern times.

Rosina worked diligently to source the sponsorship for this undertaking within her close circle of friends from her youth, contacting the now prominent company ‘Saubermacher’ in Graz, who replied favourably.

On the occasion of the 220th anniversary of Felsted’s passing, the launch of this unprecedented first complete recording will be presented in the form of a collaboration concert taking place simultaneously on both sides of the ocean. This concert will feature works by Samuel Felsted (1743 - 1802), and one of our contemporary Jamaican composers Peter Ashbourne.

In Graz, as part of the series of ‘Evening Concerts’ at the Church Mariahilf, Rosina will team up with Franz Zebinger, who was in fact a member of her Baroque Ensemble ‘Point d’ Arret’ before her arrival in Jamaica. Other performers include Kornelia Pilz, a star former recorder student of Rosina’s, and two young Jamaican musicians, bass player Alvis Reid and pianist Luke Dixon (both of whom now reside in Austria). The programme in Graz (where Rosina gained her Bachelor and Masters degrees on the recorder) will include four of the Voluntarys by Felsted, as well as Peter Ashbourne’s composition for String Quartet ‘Jamaica Folk’, and his recorder compositions ‘Elena and her Variations’ and ‘Crystal Spring’.

Here in Jamaica, the collaborative live-streaming will initially feature the new Ashbourne song ‘Jamaica Fair’ performed by the intriguing voice of boy soprano Oscar Kremer. Samuel Felsted’s Grand Chorus, the “Jamaican Hallelujah” from the oratorio ‘Jonah’ will be the finale of the programme, sung by the National Chorale of Jamaica, featuring soprano Christine McDonald and tenor John McFarlane, CD, and accompanied by the organist at the Kingston Parish Church, Dwight McBean. Conducting will be Winston Ewart, OD, who also serves as the Chairman of the organizing NGO, Music Unites Jamaica Foundation. It is worth mentioning that the oratorio ‘Jonah’ by Samuel Felsted is internationally known to be the first complete oratorio composed in the Western Hemisphere!

In her role as Executive Director of the NGO, Music Unites Jamaica Foundation, Rosina and her team have tirelessly pursued groundbreaking research on the life and works of Jamaican composers for over a decade. This effort has been made possible through a grant from the Jamaica National (JN) Foundation, documented at www.musicunitesjamaica.com.
Another of Rosina’s successful milestone goals was to make the two preserved works by Felsted, the oratorio ‘Jonah’, and the ‘Six Voluntarys for Organ or Harpsichord’, available for purchase. Her close musical associate, Argentinean-German Professor Manfredo Zimmermann recently published these on: www.music-ornaments.com

This unprecedented moment in Jamaican musical history is guaranteed to be a most memorable and momentous occasion and will be uploaded for public viewing on YouTube at a later date to be announced.

]]><![CDATA[Rhonda Davis - Tiffany Thompson Scholarship Recipient]]>Sun, 24 Oct 2021 18:07:41 GMThttps://www.musicunitesjamaica.com/projects1/rhonda-davis-tiffany-thompson-scholarship-recipient

Rhonda ‘Rhonii Dee’ Davis is an upcoming artiste who embodies love, truth, and healing. She wishes to express those qualities through her music which takes you through an inspirational, fun-filled narrative experience.
Growing up in a musical family, music has always been a passion of hers, but the need to be more deeply engaged with music manifested in high school via her musical coping mechanisms. Completing school projects which involved creative writing brought her to realize that she had a gift relating to others, and being a voice to speak on matters that are not culturally accepted. She lives by the quote: “Dare to be Different”.

In May 2021 Rhonda was featured on the morning television show ‘Smile Jamaica’ on TVJ, showcasing a pre-recorded performance of her ‘Third-year Recital’ at the School of Music of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, where she is currently in her final year of ‘Vocal Studies’, soon to obtain the Bachelor of Music (B.Mus).

Thanks to the initiative of Music Unites Jamaica Foundation, Rhonda Davis has been awarded a full scholarship for her final year studies, sponsored by the Embassy of Belgium in Jamaica.

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