Michael Reckord, Gleaner Writer

Jamaican Orrett Rhoden performs to an appreciative audience at the violin and piano recital at UWI Chapel on Sunday, May 18. - - Nathaniel Stewart/Freelance Photographer

After a performer has finished entertaining his audience, there is always a moment of uncertainty. A question forms in his mind. If he's experienced, and especially if he's a good entertainer, the question will not be, "Did I do well?" but, "How well did I do?"

On Sunday evening, after Jamaican pianist Orrett Rhoden and Canadian violinist Preston Hawes had finished their recital in the University Chapel, Mona, the question in their minds would surely have been the latter. They are both good and experienced, so they knew they had played well.

Audience's applause

The questions are answered by the audience's applause, which can range from perfunctory to enthusiastic. Very enthusiastic applause is usually given standing, and critics, reviewers and press release writers take note of standing ovations.

On Sunday, Rhoden and Hawes were rewarded with a standing ovation. It comprised applause, cheers and whistles.

There was an insistent quality to the applause and the musicians knew a request was being made. After a quick, sotto voce chat, they complied, with 'brawta,' which took the form of a sprightly polonaise by Henry Wieniawski (1835-1880).

As with Wieniawski, the musical talent of both Rhoden and Hawes manifested early. The very helpful notes supplied to Sunday's audience informed us that the latter, a concertmaster and associate director of the New England Symphonic Ensemble, of New York's Carnegie Hall, caught public attention at 13. He had placed high in the Canadian Music Competition, his first national competition.

Associate Performer

At 15, he was named an associate performer of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto and he went on to win and place in many other national and international competitions. He is now pursuing doctorate in music studies at Johns Hopkins University and lives in Baltimore.

At eight, Rhoden won a trophy for excellence in music in the Jamaica Festival competition, at 12 gave a full length recital at the Institute of Jamaica and at 14, he represented Jamaica in an international music festival in Toronto and won six first places, two seconds and a third, along with the president's scholarship.

One of his teachers was Dr Virginia-Gene Rittenhouse, who was present on Sunday. She gave a brief overview of her composition Jamaican Suite for Violin and Piano, which she said was inspired by the sights and sounds of Jamaica and which is often performed internationally. It was later played by Rhoden and Hawes. A piece of many moods and rhythms, like the island, it echoes.