Bandmaster Kevin Hayward, Assistant Territorial Music Director for the [bclink id=”1513″ target=”_blank”], traveled to Jamaica on 17 January 2002. Bandmaster Hayward was invited to the island to conduct the first retreat held by the Caribbean Staff Band (Bandmaster Steve Diaz), hold brass clinics and rehearsals with Jamaican musicians, and perform in several concerts. Bandmaster Hayward, in addition to his duties in the territorial music department, is the principal trombone and featured trombone soloist of the [bclink id=”938″ target=”_blank”].
The Caribbean Staff Band, formed in January 2000, held its first-ever weekend retreat 18 – 20 January 2002. In addition to the musical leadership provided by Bandmaster Hayward, the retreat also featured spiritual leadership by the Caribbean territorial leaders, Colonels John and Elizabeth Matear. Following two days of musical and spiritual instruction, the retreat ended with a Sunday of praise and worship, beginning with a morning service at St. Andrew Scotts Kirk United Church (Kingston), with Colonel John Matear as guest speaker. The band was featured in several items, and accompanied Kevin Hayward in two trombone solos. In the evening, the band, Bandmaster Hayward, and the Kingston Central Praise Team joined the congregations of Swallowfield Chapel and the Kingston Central Corps for a concert of musical praise. Captain Lester Ferguson provided a devotional message.
While in Kingston, Bandmaster Hayward visited the School for the Blind. There he was reunited with his former Junior Soldier teacher, Major Lillian Spence, who was Divisional Youth Secretary in the Bermuda Division when Kevin was a young person in that division. Kevin visited several classes and spoke to the entire student body of the school during the morning devotional period. Continuing his stay in Jamaica the following week, Kevin visited corps bands in Sav-la-mar (Bandmaster Dalton Laing) and Port Antonio. He then returned to Kingston, where he met with the Barbados Brass Ensemble (Bandmaster Ivan Ward). The ensemble was also featured at a Thursday night meeting in Eastern Jamaica and at the Rae Town Corps on Sunday morning.
Saturday, 26 January 2002 was great day for the music programs of the Caribbean Territory. The day began with an all-Jamaica brass and percussion clinic, held at the School for the Blind in Kingston. The previously estimated attendance was 40, but the organizers were pleasantly surprised when more than 70 musicians arrived, including groups from distant parts of the island such as Montego Bay, Port Antonio, and Sav-la-mar. The clinic was conducted with four groups: Beginners, led by Caribbean Territorial Music Director Steve Diaz; Intermediate, led by Ivan Ward, Hascal Johnson, and Useph Graves of the Barbados Brass Ensemble; Advanced, led by special guest Kevin Hayward; and Percussion, led by Desi Jones.
Following the clinic was the Brass Spectacular concert. All of the Jamaican corps bands, the Caribbean Staff Band, the Kingston Central Praise Team joined with guests Kevin Hayward and the Barbados Brass Ensemble. Over three hundred people attended the concert, which was the first of its kind held in Jamaica. Corps bands from Allman Town, Havendale, Kingston Central, Montego Bay, Port Antonio, Rae Town, Sav-la-mar and Spanish Town participated. Plans are being made to issue a compact disc recording of the concert.
Kevin Hayward departed from Jamaica the following Monday, after participating in Sunday services at the Spanish Town Corps.
Source:
Bandmaster Steve Diaz, Territorial Music Director, [bclink id=”1614″ target=”_blank”]