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Paulette Bellamy, OD


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MUSIC STUDIES
Associate - Trinity College London (ATCL) - Teachers Diploma (Violin-Playing Distinction)
Licentiate - Trinity College London(LTCL) - Violin Performance
Licentiate - Royal Schools of Music (LRSM) - Piano Performance
Fellow of the Trinity College London(FTCL)- Piano Performance
 
EARLY LIFE
Paulette Bellamy née Case began piano studies at four years old with her mother, Mrs. Linnette Case, a renowned music teacher who also taught another four-year-old student: Carol Gascoigne-Smith. The girls began performing together in public and on radio at seven years old. At age 10, they went to violin lessons with Miss Doris Livingston who took them up to the diploma level. They performed extensively as “the musical twins” whether as a piano duo or as a piano/violin combination, a partnership that still exists today. Both also received guidance from Mrs. Rita Coore who specialized in tutoring advanced piano students.
 
As a student at Wolmer’s Girls’ School, Paulette was an active participant in the school’s annual musical and theatrical presentations. Paulette added Music to her academic curriculum and was privately entered by her mother in the Senior Cambridge Certificate (London) and the Higher Schools Certificate (London) exams, gaining distinctions in both and thereby broadening her musical understanding and interest in orchestration, composition, and arranging.
 
At age 15, Paulette was invited to join the Jamaica Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mr. Sibthorpe Beckett, and later won the Orchestra’s scholarship to continue violin studies with Miss Doris Livingston. This orchestral experience proved invaluable in honing her orchestration skills.
 
At the University of the West Indies, Paulette’s academic studies included Music in her first year under the tutelage of Mr. Tom Murray with emphasis on instrumentation, score reading, and musical analysis.
 
CAREER
            ENSEMBLE DIRECTOR (1972 - 1982)
  • Mona Preparatory School
  • Queen’s Preparatory School
  • Queen’s High School
  • St. Hugh’s High School
  • Merl Grove High School
  • Vaz Preparatory School
 
 
            MUSICAL DIRECTOR
            Jamaica Musical Theatre Company (JMTC)
  • The Sound of Music - 1982
  • South Pacific - 1983
 
            Jamaica Junior Theatre Company
  • Alice in Wonderland - 1984
  • Pinocchio (several original songs by Paulette) - 1985
  • Cats (several original songs by Paulette) - 1991
 
            Father HoLung & Friends
  • Ruby - 1998
 
            Little People & Teen Players Club
  • The Dolls (Paulette composed all the music) - 1989
  • Colours in Symphony - 1991
  • Applause for the Performing Arts - 1992
  • Encore (Paulette composed the theme song) - 1993
  • Vibes in a World of Sexuality - 1993
Commissioned by Family Health International, Vibes was performed extensively throughout Jamaica, the Eastern Caribbean, Mexico, Florida,Canada, and the USA
                       
                        Cathi Levy and Players Theatre Company
  • The Fantasticks - 1987
 
Movie filmed in Jamaica
One Love - starring Ky-Mani Marley, Cherine Anderson, and Idris Elba directed by Rick Elgood and Don Letts
 
A Feast of Music - produced annually by the Meadowbrook United Church; Paulette has directed and performed in this annual fund-raising event since its inception in 1981, featuring an impressive appearance by young performers every year. A high standard has been maintained for the 35 years of the staging of this event, exposing audiences to music of all genres.
 
            CO-FOUNDER / MUSICAL DIRECTOR
            Ashé Performing Arts Ensemble
  • Nuff Respect for Nature - 1994
  • Solid - 1995
  • Hush - 1996
 
 
Foreign Tours with the Ashé Performing Arts Ensemble:
*Turks & Caicos Islands *Trinidad & Tobago *Antigua *St. Vincent *Barbados *Nassau (Bahamas) *Toronto (Canada) *Accra (Ghana) *Birmingham (England) *Washington, DC and Atlanta (USA) *Jaca (Spain) *Toulouse - Nice - Cugand - Bordeaux (France) *Milan (Italy) and *Brussels (Belgium)
 
After this hectic touring and sharing of the nuts and bolts of choral work and composition with the members, Paulette felt confident in passing on the baton to Conroy Wilson, Michael Holgate, Michael Harris, Roslyn Williams, and Sharee McDonald-Russell whose enthusiasm over the years indicated their potential to carry on successfully.
 
“I’m acutely aware of the importance of passing on traditions to those who can teach the younger generation.”
                                                                                                            Paulette Bellamy
 
FOUNDER / PERFORMER
Touch of Elegance
Paulette primarily plays violin in this acclaimed instrumental ensemble which has performed island-wide, as well as in the USA and Canada, including the 2006 Great Luncheon Concert at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Toronto for the Wolmer’s Alumni Association, and a Fund-Raising Concert for the University of the West Indies in Toronto.
 
2006 - Fund-raising concert for the Ward Theatre, including an international        harpist and a flautist
 
2011 - New York Concert
 
2015 - New York Concert
 
Performances at State Receptions for:
  • Princess Margaret
  • Queen Elizabeth II
  • Prince Harry
  • King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain
  • Colin Powell
  • Louis Farrakhan
  • Kathleen Battle
 
Performances at annual diplomatic dinners hosted by the Governor General at King’s House.
 
            Accompanist on Acoustic Piano for classical vocalists:
  • Robert Anderson (UK) - baritone
  • Rory Baugh - tenor
  • Byron Bellamy - bass-baritone
  • Rishille Bellamy-Pelicié - mezzo-soprano
  • Raehann Bryce (USA) - mezzo-soprano
  • Cecil Cooper, CD - tenor
  • Dr. Winston Davidson - bass
  • Beverley Dexter - soprano
  • Philip Drake (USA) - tenor
  • Linda Elliott (USA) - soprano
  • Velia Espeut - mezzo-soprano
  • Franklin E. Halliburton - baritone
  • Michael Sean Harris - tenor
  • Dawn Marie James (USA) - soprano
  • June Lawson - mezzo-soprano
  • Victoria Livengood (USA) - mezzo-soprano
  • Lt. Cmdr. John McFarlane, OD - tenor
  • Nastassia Nass (Germany) - soprano
  • Carole Reid - soprano
  • David Reid, OD - tenor
  • Ana Strachan - soprano
  • Curtis Watson - bass-baritone
  • Pauline Forrest-Watson - soprano
  • Sir Willard White (UK) - bass-baritone
  • Paul Williamson (Canada) - tenor
 
            Produced personal CD entitled:
            Down a Manuel Road
 
                        Listen to excerpts below:

 
            Co-produced CDs for:
  • Kevin Williams
  • John McFarlane
  • Flo Darby
  • Cecil Cooper
     
            MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS
 
            Original Music for Children’s Pantomimes
                        Vaz Preparatory School productions
  • Samantha and the Seven Do Bees - 1980
  • King Croton of Bouganvale - 1985
  • Leviathan (also performed in Trinidad & Tobago) - 1993
(Actor Boy Award for Best Children’s musical)
  • Dr. Megabyte - 1994
 
                        Original Choral Music
  • The Christmas Story
  • Christmas is Magic
  • Mary is Rockin’ da Baby
  • Shepherd Brothers (lyrics by Easton Lee),music commissioned and performed bythe Kingston College Chapel Choir
  • The Newborn King
  • O Sing unto the Lord
  • The Lord is my Shepherd
  • Jamaica is our Island
  • His excellent Name
 
                        A Jamaican Mass (co-composer Noel Dexter)
  • Lord have Mercy (Kyrie)
  • Glory be to God (Gloria)
  • Holy Holy Holy (Sanctus)
  • Blessed is He (Benedictus)
  • I Believe (Credo)
  • O Lamb of God (Agnus Dei)
 
            Original Vocal Solos
  • My dream
  • Be aware
  • Liza
  • The Lord is my Shepherd
 
 
            For Orchestra
                    (1) The Philharmonic Orchestra of Jamaica (POJ)                                                                                                                        Paulette composed music for POJ’s repertoire (2014 to 2016). In 2016, “Coconut Woman”, “Jackass a Jump an’ Bray”, “Daylight at Solas Market” and “Waterfalls and Pebbles” were added to the repertoire. She currently also plays violin in the orchestra.                   
 
                       
                       (2)The National Youth Orchestra of Jamaica (NYOJ)
The NYOJ has played several of Paulette’s arrangements, and she currently helps the enthusiastic members weekly with their repertoire. For a European Union event in 2016, NYOJ performed a medley typifying the music of each member country.
 
                     (3) The Immaculate Conception Symphony Orchestra
Recently played Paulette’s “Daylight at Solas Market” having added several of her compositions to their repertoire.
 
PERSONAL LIFE
Husband Barry, three children - Nikki (Colby Sims), Dario (Jeanine Graham), Rishille (Sandro Pelicié) andeight grandchildren (Tanner, Sydney, Kendall, Leana, Kacey, Hayley, Bella Mae, and Arabel).
 
HONOURS AND AWARDS
1998 - Little People Club. In recognition of her outstanding contribution and dedicated service
2003 - Wings of Song. In recognition of her contribution to Music and Music Education
2007 - Ward Theatre Foundation Award. In recognition of her valuable contribution to the theatre’s rehabilitation.
2008 - Feast of Music Anniversary Award. In recognition of her outstanding contribution and support.
2009 - Vaz Preparatory School. In recognition of her contribution to the development of music in Jamaica.
2009 - Order of Distinction, OD, (Government of Jamaica)
2009 - Silver Musgrave Medal (Council of the Institute of Jamaica)
http://mobile.jamaica-gleaner.com/20091018/ent/ent4.php
2012 - Outstanding Contribution in Music (Bureau of Women’s Affairs)  http://new.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120312/flair/flair3.html
2016 - Diocesan Festival Choir Hall of Fame. In recognition of her outstanding contribution to nation- building through music.

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