The Chapel at the University of the West Indies, Mona, will resound with the rich voice of renowned contralto Christine MacDonald when she appears as a featured soloist at the concert opening the National Chorale of Jamaica’s (NCOJ) 2026 season.

The recital, scheduled for Sunday, February 8, at 6:00 p.m., will feature Black British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s “Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast” and takes place under the distinguished patronage of Sir Kenneth Hall, former Governor-General of Jamaica, and Lady Rheima Hall. 

Commenting on the presentation, the Patrons noted: “Celebrating the enduring genius of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor affirms the Chorale’s unwavering commitment to artistic excellence, historical awareness, and the preservation of the choral tradition.”

The concert celebrates the rediscovery of the music of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, marking a timely tribute for Black History Month. At its heart is his acclaimed cantata Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast, presented alongside other works inspired by themes of love.

Themes of Love 

Falling within the Valentine’s season, the programme explores love in its many dimensions—divine, joyous, tragic, and sometimes melancholic. In keeping with this theme, MacDonald will also pay homage to Johannes Brahms’ Alto Rhapsody, a deeply emotional work composed in response to the engagement of Julie Schumann, daughter of Brahms’ close friends Robert and Clara Schumann. Infatuated with Julie, Brahms reportedly referred to the piece as his “bridal song,” using the work to express his feelings of isolation and emotional betrayal.

According to Musical Director Winston Ewart, “Lovers of classical music will be richly rewarded by the seamless blending of love-themed works from these two composers, whose extraordinary compositions have left an indelible mark on the classical canon.”

Another exceptional performance is anticipated from MacDonald, whose musical roots run deep. From an early age, she accompanied her mother, the late Marilyn Brice-MacDonald, to rehearsals and performances with several choral groups, including the Methodist Chorale, Jamaica Folk Singers, Y Choral, and the National Chorale of Jamaica—an ensemble with which Christine herself has frequently performed. She was also mentored and nurtured by the late Dr Olive Lewin, founder of the Jamaica Folk Singers.  

The presentation of Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast is made possible through the courtesy of the Jamaica National Group (JN Group). The work is the first cantata in Coleridge-Taylor’s celebrated trilogy, Scenes from the Song of Hiawatha, composed between 1898 and 1900. Its success brought the composer international acclaim.

The Song of Hiawatha received its first complete performance in 1900 at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Enthusiasm for Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast was so immediate that Coleridge-Taylor was commissioned to write a sequel, The Death of Minnehaha, even before the first cantata had been publicly performed.

At the height of its popularity, Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast rivalled Handel’s Messiah and Mendelssohn’s Elijah in public esteem. No other work by Coleridge-Taylor achieved comparable fame, and the tenor aria “Onaway! Awake, beloved!” remained a staple of the tenor repertoire for more than fifty years.

Coleridge-Taylor was highly esteemed by leading English composers of his time. Sir Edward Elgar described him as “far and away the cleverest fellow going amongst the younger men,” while Sir Arthur Sullivan, famed for his comic operas, praised the composer following the work’s premiere at the Royal College of Music on November 11, 1898, noting: “The music is fresh and original—he has melody and harmony in abundance, and his scoring is brilliant and full of colour—at times luscious, rich and sensual.”

Chairman of the National Chorale, Christopher Samuda, described the upcoming concert as especially timely. “Bringing such a feast of masterful compositions as Coleridge-Taylor’s Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast to the forefront reinforces the Chorale’s commitment to preserving the classical tradition and celebrating the healing and restorative power of timeless choral music—particularly at a time when Jamaica seeks renewal and restoration.”

In keeping with its educational mission, the National Chorale has invited Corporate Jamaica to sponsor the attendance of selected high-school music students. This long-standing initiative seeks to expose young Jamaicans to the country’s rich classical music heritage, which dates back to the 18th century and includes composers such as Samuel Felsted, whose oratorio Jonah is recognised as the first oratorio composed in the New World.

Emphasising the importance of this tradition, Musical Director Winston Ewart added: “While Jamaica is globally celebrated for its popular music—reggae and dancehall—a significant classical tradition also exists. This heritage, shaped by history and sustained by dedicated artists and institutions, deserves recognition and continued support.”

Tickets for Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast cost $5,000 and are available at Music Mart on South Avenue (OFF Constant Spring Road) or by calling the NCOJ office at 876-816-8861.