Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

Members of tha Jamaica Folk Singers. - photos by Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

With the success of our athletes at the Beijing Olympics, Jamaicans are in a patriotic mood, and in keeping with that spirit, the Jamaica Folk Singers will be hosting its annual concert, this year's theme being 'Out of Many, One'.

Musical director for the Jamaican Folk Singers, Christine MacDonald-Nevers, told The Gleaner, "This year, the theme is 'Out of Many, One', and in fact, we are having several guest performances. So, there will be performances from the Scottish Country Dance Society, a flamingo dancer, Shavi Toland, who is the best Indian dancer in Jamaica; they are joining us."

Different elements

She continued: "As usual, we'll be showing different elements of life in Jamaica. There will be two very high energy sets called 'Live and Love' and 'Revival', which will truly capture the theme 'Out of Many, One'."

Trip down memory lane

The theme will take the audience down memory lane, remembering the island's slave ancestors, enjoying young love, and experiencing the ever-powerful and spiritual Revival. The concert will feature beautiful Jamaican folk music arranged by the group's founder, Dr Olive Lewin, folklorist and accomplished pianist, violinist and composer.

The Jamaica Folk Singers is a non-profit group formed in 1967. This concert season is intended to be the major fund-raiser for the group this year, with part proceeds going towards the 2009 Summer School programme and part towards the Jamaica Library Service, an organisation with which the group has been associated for over 13 years.

The group has received funding from the CHASE Fund, which has recognised the contributions that the Jamaica Folk Singers has made to Jamaica's cultural development, and which recognises the need to help the group to continue to fulfil its mandate: to be an agent of cultural reproduction in Jamaica.

The season is scheduled from September 6-14 at the Little Theatre, Tom Redcam Avenue, with showtimes Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 6:00 p.m.

Members of the Jamaica Folk Singers perform during their 40th anniversary concert at the Little Theatre.