I almost did not write this article. Let me explain why. A few days ago, I was outside the Blowing Point terminal, awaiting the ferry to St Martin, where Floyd Lake and I exchanged greetings. Floyd looked good.

He was well groomed: hair properly combed. Shirt in pants. Everything matching. His son, George, can’t come close to him, no day. But the thing about Floyd that attracted my attention most was his pants. They were well ironed. With seams prominent like in days of old. I hadn’t seen such proper seams for a long time so, in my excitement, I ran my open hand down one of his legs and lo and behold two of my fingers got cut. And I could not type a note for several days. Floyd’s seams were razor sharp. When I meet him again I will see and don’t touch.

But the seams in his pants did make me realise how far our pride in the way we carry ourselves had declined. That realisation was heightened some days later when I passed two boys from the ALHCS, on their way home, with baggy pants below their bottoms. I thought that mode of dress in our schools was disallowed, but no. It is still the going thing and is extremely regrettable. To quote from a popular calypso, “Somebody is stealing the soul of the nation . . .” But thankfully, we have institutions which are working hard to strengthen and sustain our nation’s soul. One of them is Morlens Music Studio.

The curtains on Morlens’ series of concert presentations, featuring its students, came down on Sunday 7th October at the St Augustine’s Anglican Church, East End, with the sweet sound of the trumpet of Jelani Banks and the melodious tones of the saxophone of Roxanne Webster (better known as Lill Roxy in the junior calypso world in which she is the reigning OECS and St Martin’s calypso monarch). The two talented teenagers thrilled the audience with high quality music and earned themselves a standing ovation. The audience was also thrilled with the music of the little children, Jordia Hodge and Kamal Vanterpool, who played during the intermission. They were simply cute.

The Morlens’ concert series began on 19th November 2006 with an extremely powerful, and unforgettable, presentation by Shermel (Peach) Richardson on the flute. Her performance, many people thought, was a hard act to follow, but it was followed closely by a group of young talented musicians who exhibited their mastery of the instruments they had learned to play and love. I use this opportunity to say congratulations to all of them: Ojeda Vanterpool (clarinet and piano), Krystal Webster (clarinet), Krystie Webster (saxophone), Calyn Harrigan (clarinet and piano) and Kandyce Smith, Elson Richardson and Chrystal Duncan all on the piano. I say to them, you are all on the right track. Stay on course.

As I wrote sometime ago, I had no intention of attending any of the concerts but having attended the first one, and being captivated by Shermel on her flute, I attended all of them but one, because of illness. Believe it or not, it was during those concerts that I discovered the meaning of the song:

All things shall perish from under the sky.
Music alone shall live; music alone shall live;
Music alone shall live, never to die.

Indeed, music alone shall live. The proof: on resurrection morning the dead in Christ will rise first to the beautiful sound of the trumpet and I trust that I will be among those who hear it. Then there will be music in heaven. Music alone shall live, never to die.

I add here that Morlens’concert series have also given me a better appreciation of music as well as cause me to regret not continuing playing the trumpet which I started in 1965 while at Teachers College in Antigua. Had I continued I may have been able to form a band with the boys in East End and harness their energies into productive activities.

That aside I want to highlight the fact, once more, that Anguilla would be a much better place if more of its children were exposed to the playing of music. Music builds self-esteem and self-respect. It is intellectually stimulating. As a matter of fact, some psychologists are of the view that children who play music excel academically. That reminds me of Ojeda Vanterpool’s and Calyn Harrigan’s excellent performances, and of Krystal and Krystie Webster’s creditable results, in the 2007 CXC examinations. It reminds me also of Shermel’s excellent performance in her CAPE (Advanced Level) examinations. Indeed, it was the students of music who led the way with the best results and this tells us that music definitely has a positive impact on the academics.

Psychologists are also of the view that membership of musical groups, such as choirs, orchestras and other bands, instils the value of unity and team spirit in everyday life. Indeed, the playing of music does much in the production of well-rounded people. It was that recognition which led to the establishment of Morlens Music Studio in 1989. The Studio “is dedicated to the development and advancement of youth through music.” And I say to its Director, if that is the nature of your vision, hold on to your vision. Anguilla needs it.
Similarly, it was the recognition of the role of music in good character building, in the moulding of productive citizens and in proper community living, that led to the birth of the Stingray Project of music and art education, not so long ago. The project was conceived between Bankie Banx and Ijahnya Christian of Triple Crown Culture Yard and is already making a positive impact on the lives of the young people who have been touched by it.

But back to Morlens Music Studio. It is not only producing young people who could play good music. It is also laying the foundation stones on which the future of Anguilla could be built with confidence. What we sow, is what we reap and Morlens is definitely reaping good fruit. In this regard Shermel Richardson will be the opening artiste when the 2007 Anguilla Tranquillity Jazz Festival gets under way on Thursday evening 8th November at CuisinArt Resort and Spa. Shermel will let her flute enchant the international audience the way it has been enchanting local audiences. I appeal to Anguillians, particularly the young people, to go out and support her as she makes Anguilla proud and in the process makes herself known internationally as a young and talented flautist of great repute. The feature artiste that evening is Dian Schuur, the First Lady of Jazz, but we are confident that beautiful Shermel will give a good account of herself.
Morlens Music Studio, of which Shermel and the other talented young musicians mentioned above are products, is headed by Lennox (Lenn) Vanterpool. He is impacting the lives of many Anguillian youth in most constructive ways. Lenn must be loudly applauded for the high standard of music his students are producing and for the wonderful young people whose lives are being positively influenced by his Studio. Lenn, a humble young gentleman, comes from a musical family. His father, the late Morris St Clair Vanterpool, was well versed in music and in his early life fiddled with the fiddle. In the 1970s he founded and directed the St Augustine’s Church Chorale later renamed the St Clair’s Chorale on his sad passing in 1976. Today that Chorale, now the St Augustine’s Chorale, is directed by Lenn. It is the leading gospel-singing group in Anguilla. Its annual cantatas at Easter and Christmas are renowned for inspiring and wonderful renditions and for attracting large audiences.

In commenting further on the musical family from which Lenn came, I recall his sisters, Patsy Vanterpool and Sandra Gumbs, being two of the foundation singers of the once famous Bankie Banx Roots and Herbs band. Their melodious voices could be distinctively heard on the band’s first album, Prince of Darkness.

It is no surprise that having grown up in an environment of music and singing that Lennox Vanterpool would have developed into a professional musician who sees music as a multi-faceted discipline for social development and as a social tonic which can cure many of our society’s ailments. In these difficult times through which Anguilla is passing we could do well with bigger doses of the tonic. In this regard, may Morlens Music Studio grow from strength to strength and remain a vibrant institution on our social landscape. Anguilla needs it.

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