Adrian Frater, News Editor

Jamaican-born Councillor Sheik G.L. Thompson, the mayor of Haringey in north-east London. - JIS photo

WESTERN BUREAU: The resort town of Negril, in Westmoreland, is poised to receive a refreshing musical experience to start the month of July courtesy of the 105-piece symphony orchestra, big band and jazz ensemble from the Borough of Haringey in London, England.

The musical outfit, which comprises young musicians ranging from age 11 to 19, is coming to Jamaica courtesy of an invitation from the Negril Education Environment Trust (NEET), which has been creating scope for social interaction as a part of its mandate.

"The collaboration between NEET and Haringey came about as a direct result of conversations between myself and the Honourable Sheik Thompson, the mayor of Haringey, and Winston Wellington," says Winthrope Wellington, a spokesman for NEET.

"It should be noted that Mayor Thompson is a professional jazz musician himself and a former student of Manning's School in Savanna-la-Mar."

free concerts

During its visit, the group, which was slated to arrive in the island last Wednesday, will perform at approximately eight venues in and around Negril. The concerts will be free at all the venues.

The first concert will be held today at the Norman Manley Beach Park, in Negril. This event will be live on the Internet, courtesy of Negril.com. The musical excitement will move to the Kool Runnings Water Park, also in Negril, the following day.

Other scheduled appearances are:

July 3 - Manning's High School

July 4 - Grange Hill High School

July 5- St Paul's Primary School.

The final two venues are yet to be decided.

"The group will be accommodated at Travellers Beach Resort, in Negril, for the first five days," said Mr Wellington. "In the next five days, the young musicians will stay with host families from Manning's High school."

"During the visit, discussions will take place surrounding a possible visit to Haringey as part of an exchange programme," he added. "We are hoping to make this an ongoing arrangement between Haringey and NEET."

Indications are that the Manning's School could become a major beneficiary of this visit as it is believed that the visiting musicians will be donating all their instruments to the school.

The visit is being coordinated by NEET, the Borough of Haringey, Manning's School and the Negril Chamber of Commerce, endorsed by the Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association (JHTA) and the Rotary Club of Negril.