Ministry of Information, Culture, Youth & Sports

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Jamaican representative, Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), Marie Clarke, provides a project overview of the ABRSM activities, at the launch of commemorative stamps, marking the organisation's 100th anniversary in Jamaica, held at the Institute of Jamaica, in Kingston, on October 30.

The Post and Telecommunications Department and the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), on Thursday (October 30), launched a set of commemorative stamps marking the Board's 100th anniversary.

The launch saw stamps featuring images of the Association's history along with first day covers being formally unveiled.

Addressing the ceremony held at the Institute of Jamaica in Kingston, ABRSM Jamaican representative, Marie Clarke, said that the launch of the stamps was a historic event and commended the Post and Telecommunications Department, for producing the stamps in recognition of the 100 years of ABRSM examinations in Jamaica.

"We're proud to be a part of Jamaica's history. Indeed, it is our hope that the ABRSM will continue to play a pivotal role in the nurturing and development of musical talent and music education in Jamaica," she said.

"As we celebrate this centenary," she continued, "it is amazing to think that, even before Jamaican women earned the right to vote, the ABRSM saw it fit to start sending music examiners to Jamaica in 1908. So long before the term 'globalisation' became fashionable, music teachers taking ABRSM exams in Jamaica, have been on par with music students all over the world through ABRSM exams."

Ms. Clarke implored parents to allow their children to start playing a musical instrument from as early an age as five or six years old "so that by the time they reach to age 15 they will have completed over 10 years of musical study and qualify for credits into any college in the world."

Public Relations and Marketing Officer at the Postal and Communications Department, Gordon Brown, in his remarks, noted that the launch sought to recognise the contribution of the teachers in developing and identifying young minds and talents.

"It also serves to ensure that Jamaica and by extension the world recognises the significant contribution of our Jamaican music teachers to the international landscape," he added. The ABRSM is the world's leading examining body for music, conducting more than 630,000 exams in over 90 countries each year.

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