Karen Smith’s Family Endorses Scholarship Concert In Her Honour

Kingston, Jamaica, October 6, 2022 – The family of Karen Smith have given their blessings to the
fund-raising concert being staged this Sunday by her friends at the Edna Manley College of the
Visual and Performing Arts. Funds from the concert will be used to establish the Karen Smith
Memorial Scholarship, and to finance the refurbishing of a practice room at the College’s School
of Music.
Smith’s daughter Courtni Jackson as well as her widower, renowned bass player Jackie Jackson,
will join the cavalcade of Jamaican musical notables who have given their time and talent free of
cost to appear on the concert which is being held at the Vera Moody Concert Hall at the School
of Music.
For Courtni Jackson, who is a student at the college, this event represents the impact her late
mother had on the persons she met and expressed that the honour is not lost on her and her
entire family.
“I feel so honoured and touched that she has made such an impact on people’s lives, so much so
that even a whole year after she has passed there are persons who feel the need to put on these
initiatives in her honour. To have a scholarship in her honour at the School of Music at the Edna
Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts is just amazing.”
“I am so touched…she is such an inspiration to us all and may her light shine down upon this
concert; may her light shine down upon all those who use this practice room and may her light
shine down on all the people whom she has touched in her lifetime,” Jackson continued.
Among the acts billed to perform are Ernie Smith, Dean Frazer, Boris Gardiner, Desi Jones, Gem
Myers, Jon Williams, Carlene Davis, Myrna Hague, DiMario McDowell, Peter Ashbourne, Pam
Hall, Junior Tucker, Seretse Small, Dwight Richards, Keisha Patterson, Rosina Christina Moder,
Maria Myrie, Charmaine Lemonious, Dr Kathy Brown, Harold Davis, Everton Pessoa, and Ozou’ne.
Smith’s mother, retired educator Barbara Smith has also thrown the weight of her support behind
the fundraiser.
She too expressed her thanks and appreciation to the Friends of Karen Smith who conceptualised
the event, and the logical connection between Karen Smith and the School of Music at the Edna
Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.
“Karen was a part time student of voice at the college while she was a sixth former in high school.
So, it is fitting that students at the school of music should benefit from this concert. We just want
to encourage persons to lend their support,” said Smith.
Sunday’s concert will be guided by veteran broadcaster Michael Anthony Cuffe and is being
staged under the distinguished patronage of former Jamaican Prime Minister PJ Patterson.
This concert is being staged as part of the 45th anniversary celebrations of the Edna Manley
College of the Visual Performing Arts. Although the individual schools [Dance, Drama, Art and
Music] existed prior, they were brought under one cover at the Arthur Wint Drive campus in St.
Andrew 45 years ago.