Despite the continued impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alpha Boys School is planning a major expansion. The Kingston-based school is finally realising its goal to build a dedicated music space for its longstanding music programme. The space, which will be located in the old dormitory building will accommodate a performance space, rehearsal rooms and a music resource centre.
Since the closing of the dorms in 2014, the administration of the school has been developing plans to repurpose the old dorms to expand their music programme and provide adequate rehearsal and recording space. Funding has been a major challenge for the extensive renovation, but Digicel Foundation inked a deal on Thursday, July 24 at Alpha to assist the project.
“You know how it is sometimes when you’re struggling to get things started and you just can’t get any traction; Sister Martha Milner, who passed in October 2019, put together a four year music and Jazz curriculum for us and when she did that, it all came together,” explained Sister Susan Frazer, executive director at Alpha Institute. “Digicel is the top of the heap for us – this sponsorship is what has moved it forward for us. Now we can get more than the outside done.”
As a part of the Foundation’s sponsorship, the newly renovated building will be dedicated to Digicel’s past CEO, Colm Delves, who passed away in May after a battle with cancer. “Colm embraced Jamaican culture through music,” said Charmaine Daniels, CEO of the Digicel Foundation. The Digicel Foundation is focused on the areas of Special Needs, Education and Community Development; a large part of their investment in schools has been focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. “We’re proud to be able to honour Colm in this way – it is our largest investment in a music programme to date and we know Alpha will care for this building as it continues to serve at-risk young men and create a world where no one is left behind.”
Alpha has had a 140 year history of promoting skills to boys and much of that history is entrenched in music, with past students such as Yellowman, Dizzy Reece, Feluke and Tommy McCook, Lester “Ska” Sterling, and John Arlington “Dizzy” Moore, founding members of The Skatalites.
“Sister Martha was instrumental in bringing this music programme to life and now the late Colm Delves, through the Digicel Foundation, will be an important part of that as well,” said Frazer.
The renovation is set to be completed by December 2020. Other investors have already assisted the school in creating an adjacent outdoor space for open-air performances. This space will also be available for rentals to assist the school in maintaining the extensive music programme. Other sponsors include the Tourism Enhancement Fund and the Sandals Foundation.
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