Michael Reckord, Gleaner Writer

Words are important to Carole Reid, one of Jamaica's most admired and awarded sopranos. So when answering The Sunday Gleaner's question about how she ranked her numerous performances abroad - she has sung scores of times in more than a dozen countries - she gave a nuanced reply.

Singing at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York was, she said, "a great experience". And "most importantly", while onstage with the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) Singers, she had the opportunity to sing a solo.

A "memorable experience" was singing to about 5,000 people in the pre-competition concert at the 35th International Eisteddfod of South Africa in 1997. Participating in the category Classical Recital (vocal), she earned herself two Silver Certificates for second place.

"Of course," she continued, "My solo concert in New York (in 2004) to launch my first CD was really inspiring."

She concluded her answer with yet another term: "But my performances in churches give me so much pleasure."

Reid's answers suggest that the pleasure she gets from singing in church trumps merely "inspiring", "memorable", or "great" experiences. Which is not surprising, for church means a lot to Reid, a profoundly spiritual person. Besides, that's where she started singing.

Loved music

She has been a member and soloist of Christ Church in Vineyard Town since she was 12 years old. In addition, she's a member of the Diocesan Festival Choir, Jamaica Musical Theatre Company, National Chorale and the NDTC.

Reid's music career began early, with lessons in piano and voice, for a simple reason. She loved music.

"This was natural," she explained, "because my mother played the organ, piano and the trumpet, and she had a lovely soprano voice."

In fact, musical talent runs in the family. Her grandfather, she said, was an organist at the Baptist Church in his district, Pear Tree Grove, St Catherine, and her grandmother, who had a beautiful soprano voice, was a soloist at the church.

"Piano was seen as important in my household," Reid continued. "Classical music was considered as essential to my upbringing."

Even while studying for her Senior Cambridge exams in fifth form, she accompanied her mother to all her choir practices. These included the Y Choral Group, directed by Sibthorpe Beckett, and the Diocesan Festival Choir, directed by Hazel Lawson-Street, both of which Reid became a soloist at 15. In 1962, mother and daughter also joined the Arts Celebration Choir and The Jamaica Musical Theatre Company.

Remarkable talent

At 17, Reid got a scholarship to the Jamaica School of Music, where, in her first year, she passed the grade-eight voice exam (Royal School of Music) with distinction. Recognising Reid's remarkable talent, her tutor, Jeannette Cross, without Reid's knowledge, applied for Reid's entry to the renowned Juliard School of Music in New York. Reid was accepted, but she turned down the potentially life-changing offer to study at the school.

"Of course, Ms Cross was absolutely astounded," Reid said. "But I was resolute."

Why did she not go to Juliard?

"I had started working at the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ)," Reid explained, "and I had two brothers who were still at high school. I took the decision that it would be unfair to go abroad at that time and not assist at home."

As history does not disclose alternatives, it is impossible to know what would have happened had Reid gone to Juliard, but she stated that at the School of Music, she had "the very best tutors".

They included Marion Navakowski, who also trained Jamaica's acclaimed operatic bass Sir Willard White; Jeannette Cross; Robert Williams and Joyce Briton. Always seeking to improve her technique, Reid has since attended master classes conducted by Sir Willard, among others.

Reid has done her share of teaching, and she especially enjoys helping young people. As former musical director for David Tulloch's Probemaster Entertainment Limited, she was responsible for coaching youngsters and young adults in a number of original musicals, namely Block 24, The Narrative, O Holy Night and The Glass Slipper.

Most famously, she coached the world-famous opera diva, Kathleen Battle. This was in 1999 when Battle needed to learn a Jamaican folk song for her performance at King's House.

The Sunday Gleaner asked for details.

"It was awesome being with the great lady," Reid reported, and despite Battle's reputation for being temperamental, even difficult, Reid continued: "I can truly say that I interacted with a lovely, gracious lady on that afternoon. I was thrilled to be asked to coach her to sing Linstead Market, and I think we both enjoyed the experience. Her accompanist, Joseph Joubert, was astounded. He told me that he couldn't remember ever seeing her so relaxed. She enjoyed singing it at King's House and got a very good reception."

Though classical ('art') music is her favourite, Reid nevertheless declared: "I love to sing opera, lieder, art songs, spirituals, show songs, folk, gospel and pop. I enjoy all music. Music is the engine."

Showing her strong sense of humour, she slyly added: "I listen to dancehall rhythm not the lyrics."

She explained her dedication to classical music thus: "I feel that classical music is being marginalised as it's not encouraged in our society now as it was when I was at school."

At that time, she stated, music as a subject was almost mandatory, adding, "Classical music is the foundation for all music, just as classical ballet gives a good foundation for all forms of dance. I love classical music."

Why is it important to the society, Reid was asked. Her answer was thoughtful.

"Art music is the foundation of our society. It shapes our people, and especially our children need to be balanced in their exposure to music in order to make informed decisions as to their appreciation for the different music in our society.

Various occasions

"In my opinion, the management of our country has a responsibility to assist in the shaping of our citizens' lives. If our children never hear art music, how can they appreciate it? They always hear reggae and dancehall, so that is what they know. You can't like something to which you are not sensitised."

Reid has a big dream: "It is for a West Indies Choir Festival and ultimately a West Indies Choir that will perform all genres of music with a West Indies Orchestra. The West Indies has a wealth of talent that should be shared. We could invite soloists and conductors from each island to perform on various occasions."

Reid has received many awards for her music, her most cherished ones being her Bronze Musgrave Medal and the Silver Certificate she got at the International Eisteddfod in South Africa.

A former director of the Bank of Jamaica (BoJ) and human resource and administration manager at the National Export-Import Bank of Jamaica where she was assigned by the BoJ, Reid is now a director at Alfrasure Structures and Roofing Limited.