
 
        
         
		Musical tribute to composer Valerie Rodway 
 By Tangerine Clarke 
 The outpouring of musical  
 tributes  on  Sunday,  Aug.25,  
 with  contributions  by  youth,  
 were befitting venerable Guyanese  
 composer Valerie Rodway, 
  (1919-1970) whose patriotic  
 compositions from her vast  
 body  of  work  filled  the  grandiose  
 St.  Gabriel’s  Episcopal  
 Church, in celebration of the  
 music teacher’s 100th birthday. 
 The packed audience enjoyed,  
 a  grand  musical  odyssey,  
 arranged by brilliant preeminent  
 composer,  Hugh  Sam,  
 who pulled together a stellar  
 group of artistes for a nostalgic,  
 gratifying  production,  under  
 the conduct of incomparable  
 director, Monty Blackmore.  
 Renowned broadcaster, Hugh  
 Hamilton, who guided the program  
 with precision and astute  
 intellect, as host, in his opening  
 remarks, reminded that it  
 was the persistence of scholars  
 like Dr. Vibert Cambridge, who  
 led the struggle to ensure Guyanese  
 artistes,  composers,  and  
 cultural icons are appropriately  
 honored  for  their  invaluable  
 contributions with a sense of  
 pride, identity, and belonging. 
 Thanks  to  Dr.  Cambridge,  
 Turning 65 and ready for Medicare,  
 or eligible for Medicare and Medicaid?  
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 Caribbean L 40     ife, Aug. 30, 2019 
 persistence  spells  success,  as  
 demonstrated in every performance  
 that honored Valerie Rodway, 
  who, Dr. Cambridge called,  
 Guyana’s  greatest  composer  of  
 national and patriotic music.  
 The prolific production by  
 Guyana  Cultural  Association,  
 (GCA) under the patronage of  
 Ambassador Rudolph M. Ten- 
 Pow, and guest, Consul General, 
  to New York, Hon. Barbara  
 Atherly, began after the heartfelt  
 singing  of  the  National  
 Anthems  of  the  United  States  
 of America, and the Republic of  
 Guyana, by Anthony Alleyne. 
 The flame of patriotism was  
 then ignited when young pianist  
 Kurleigh  Lowe  joined  the  
 String Quartet of Duane James,  
 Camille Prescott-Archer, Hennigan  
 Kearns, Mel Greenidge,  
 and Kevaun McPherson,  in  an  
 overture to set the tone for  
 an  awe-inspiring  evening  of  
 culture, where Mildred, Kevin,  
 and Kenrick Lowe, all had pivotal  
 roles. 
 Royal  College  of  London  
 trained choir conductor, Avis  
 Joseph, wielded her baton with  
 razor-sharp  accuracy,  to  lead  
 the choir in, “Guyana the Free”,  
 and “A Hymn for the Republic”,  
 songs that fueled a sentimental  
 longing and love of country, as  
 heard the in fervent applause.  
 One of the most inspiring  
 moments  of  the  night  was  
 Edgar Henry’s passionate verve  
 - A Tribute to Valerie Rodway.  
 Accompanied  by  musicians  
 Erwin Edwards & Dennis  
 Kadan, Henry narrated -  
 “To every man, woman, girl  
 and boy, you brought melodic  
 fruits  of  lasting  joy,  we  will  
 always remember your musical  
 Guyanese composer, arranger, Hugh Sam and Dr. Vibert  
 Cambridge, president of the Guyana Cultural Association,  
 (GCA), after the Valerie Rodway Centenary Concert at St.  
 Gabriel Episcopal Church in Brooklyn.    
              Photo by Tangerine Clarke 
 slate - Yes! We pause to hail  
 and celebrate,” to resounding  
 applause.  
 The rhythm continued with  
 Neika Jewell whose melodious  
 voice filled the air with “To  
 the Hibiscus” and “Twilight”  
 - a lovely collaboration with  
 Demon Webster, on violin, and  
 Ronald Lashley on piano, that  
 began a soothing, classical element, 
  and ended with Albert  
 Bentick –tenor performance of  
 “A Poet’s Prayer.  
 Guyana  Consul  General  to  
 NY, Hon. Barbara Atherly,  
 President of the Guyana  
 Tri-State Alliance, Patricia  
 Jordon-Langford, and  
 Congresswoman Yvette D.  
 Clarke.     
               Photo by Tangerine Clarke 
 Yes