Saturday, February 13, 2010

                                               Davey S. Yarborough awarding-winning

                                               musician and educator   

Award-winning musician and educator Davey S. Yarborough recently made a welcome visit to Excelsior, and gave a boost to ongoing efforts to have the declining music program at the school soaring again, and reaching yet higher. The acclaimed and accomplished Mr. Yarborough is Artistic Director for the famous Washington Jazz Arts Institute and the Jazz Studies Director for The Duke Ellington School of the Arts.

Spurred in part by concerns among alumni in the Diaspora, the musical maestro made a visit to Excelsior during the week of May 3, 2009 to assess the school’s music program, at the request of alumna Dr. Goulda Downer. His visit was also facilitated by the generosity of Althea Brown-Robinson, Vice President of the Excelsior Alumni Association of Florida, who sponsored accommodations; and by the Alice & Noel Downer Fund which provided his round trip airfare and ground transportation.

How did this remarkable man and exemplary musician who is a regular at the White House and known worldwide, get to Excelsior? Almost 3 years ago when the class of 1977 celebrated its 30th anniversary, members of the group had heard the melodious sound of the few inferior instruments played by the students and vowed that the music department would be rebuilt to exceed all expectations.

Dr. Goulda Downer then spoke with Mr. Yarborough about how to get some much needed instruments to her alma mater. As she noted, “without missing a beat he gave me  1 flute, 1 keyboard, 1 bass guitar, 1 trumpet  and 2 harmonicas"; and a colleague of his added over US$600.00 worth of music books. Dr. Downer also increased the cache of instruments by personally purchasing 20 recorders, and within 2 days the items were shipped to Jamaica, cleared and sent to Excelsior.

These donations were later bolstered by other gifts by prominent North Carolina-based gynecologist Dr. Rosemarie Newman ('71) of a guitar, instructional DVDs and other teaching aids. The New York-based Excelsior Alumni Association (USA) Inc also made another significant contribution by purchasing and donating musical instruments worth more than US$4,000.00 to the school.  The Excelsior Alumni Association of Florida chipped in as well with US$1000.00 which was earmarked to help refurbish the music room.

Following his donation, Davey Yarborough then asked what else he could do to help the school's music program.  It was suggested that he see for himself. This needs assessment would help highlight program gaps and, in collaboration with the music teacher, begin to rebuild our music program.

And thus his visit: A week where he would typically spend in Austria or some other country performing and getting paid, he opted to volunteer at our alma mater.

Before his departure, he met with Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Anthony Johnson, at the Jamaican Embassy in Washington, DC. The ambassador expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Jamaican people.