Students at the School of Music at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts and professional classical vocalists will have a rare opportunity to participate in an exclusive workshop and masterclass taking place at the School of Music, led by world-renowned Jamaican-American mezzo-soprano Raehann Bryce-Davis. 

The workshop scheduled for Thursday, January 29, and the masterclass taking place at the traditional time on Friday, January 30, will focus on performance practice and advanced vocal techniques, offering participants invaluable insight from one of today’s most celebrated operatic voices.

Bryce-Davis will be in Jamaica for a fundraising concert titled A Moment of Music with Raehann Bryce-Davis, held under the distinguished patronage of Ambassador Audrey Marks, MP. The concert is scheduled for Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the Vera Moody Concert Hall, Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts. The event is presented by the Music Unites Jamaica Foundation (MUJF).

Proceeds from the concert will provide scholarships for voice students at the School of Music and support other emerging musical talents, while also contributing to the Foundation’s ongoing research on Jamaican composers.

“The Foundation is delighted to facilitate this level of mentorship—a priceless, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for young musicians,” said Rosina Moder, Executive Director of MUJF. “This initiative aligns perfectly with our mission to promote music education through meaningful connections with globally recognised artists who proudly honour their Jamaican heritage.”

Moder emphasised that financial assistance is especially critical in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, which has disrupted the lives of students and citizens across the island.

Hailed by the New York Observer as “one of the best mezzo-sopranos of this generation,” Bryce-Davis—born to Jamaican parents—has appeared on many of the world’s leading opera stages, including the Metropolitan Opera, Dutch National Opera, Opera Philadelphia, and Houston Grand Opera. A celebrated recording artist and creative producer, her debut album, Evolution (2025), seamlessly weaves her Jamaican heritage with her classical training and bold contemporary influences, including a standout collaboration with dancehall artiste Lady Ann.

A Homecoming Performance

“This concert promises to be a magical and unforgettable evening – a true celebration of music,” said Moder. “It will introduce Jamaican audiences to the artistry of another internationally acclaimed performer whose cultural roots are deeply embedded in the island.”

Speaking on what patrons can expect, Janine Coombs, Deputy Director of MUJF, noted: “Audiences will enjoy a rich and diverse programme featuring classical favourites, opera arias, folk selections, Negro spirituals, and innovative fusions of electronic music with popular Jamaican styles. This performance will present classical music in both traditional and refreshingly modern forms—a one-of-a-kind experience filled with exciting surprises, brought to life by the voice of a seasoned yet dynamic international opera star.”

First Class Musicians 

The Deputy Director also shared that the accompanists for the concert, will be some of Jamaica’s highly accomplished musicians. Among them are Roger N Williams, (Dean of Edna Manley School of Music) on piano; Emily Elliott, cello; Jovani Williams, violin and viola; Peter Ashbourne and Gabriel Walters, violin; Reuben Betty, percussion. Along with the band will be Jeremy Ashbourne on drums/band leader.

Bryce-Davis shared her deep Jamaican connections, noting that her father, Dr Errol Bryce, grew up in Spanish Town, and her mother, Hortensia Bryce, is from Clarendon. She also highlighted her grandaunt, the late Marilyn Bryce-MacDonald, a lead singer with the Jamaica Folk Singers, and her aunt Michelle Bromley, a renowned organist in Jamaica—clear testaments to the family’s rich musical lineage. Bryce-Davis added that her husband, fashion designer Allan Virgo, grew up in Denham Town and attended Kingston College.

The concert is made possible through the generous sponsorship of companies such as: S Hotel Kingston; Round Hill Hotel and Villas; TAC Printing; Fesco-FYC Water; Bridget Sandals; Visual Tech Solutions Ltd; Whatz Up New York. 

 Music Unites Jamaica Foundation

Founded over 30 years ago by Austrian-born music educator Rosina Christina Moder and her husband, Jamaican composer Peter Ashbourne, the Music Unites Jamaica Foundation (MUJF) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to preserving and promoting Jamaica’s rich musical heritage, in addition to assisting and mentoring music students.  

The Foundation develops initiatives that support music education, cultural exchange, and the celebration of Jamaican composers and musicians locally and internationally. Through workshops, lectures, concerts, and public events, MUJF continues to broaden audiences’ exposure to Jamaican music while nurturing collaboration and artistic development among musicians, students, and the wider community.

Tickets are now available online at caribtix.com, and at Liguanea Drug and Garden – Liguanea Plaza, as well as Fontana Barbican and Waterloo.

Contribution: J$12,000 (pre-sold) | J$15,000 (at the gate)