Allens’ Music Studio celebrates 10 years of existence

Persons present at the Peace Memorial Hall last Saturday were treated to a number of musical performances, as the Allens’ Music Studio celebrated a decade of existence.

In an interview with SEARCHLIGHT, Linda Allen, proprietor of the studio, said she was excited about the milestone.

“I’m excited we could have pulled off that type of entertainment.”{{more}}

She added that the milestone shows that the music she has been teaching is very rewarding, noting that music has always been the love of her life.

In a release, Allen said she has always wanted to share her knowledge of music with others.

“This I might have inherited from my father, an old man by the name of Leopold Anthony, whose house was always full of passers-by who would humour him by stopping to play an available instrument and create some music. In those days, there was no noise act. He is still alive today and you dare not pass by without being offered some scores and asked to play his latest composition,” she said.

Allen taught music first at her home in North Leeward and later in Arnos Vale. She started the studio after she retired from the public service as a home economics teacher.

She has also extended her services to churches in Troumaca, Westwood and later Barrouallie, where two students each were trained free of cost, so as to fill the void in those churches where she said there is an instrument, but no organist.

At the ceremony, the music instructor thanked her students past and present for making her a part of their musical development, while reminding them of the studio’s motto: “Progress through Music.”

She further reminded the students that music makes them cultured persons, adding, “Good discipline and high academic achievements are all fringe benefits.”

Allen has taught hundreds of students of varying age ranges and has taken students from the beginner level to grade five in both theory and practical, as certified by the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), an international examination body.

Speaking at the celebrations, representative of ABRSM Floyd Parris said Allen is an inspiration to him.

According to Parris, some of the pieces that were performed by the students are part of the ABRSM exams; the ABRSM offers exams in 30 instruments, including piano and violin.

During the celebrations, 12 students received awards for their performance in the ABRSM theory exams in 2015, with Chenise Harper and Kelcey Allen achieving passes with Distinction.

Nine students passed the ABRSM Piano Practical in 2015, with Oneil Sprott, Halei Williams-Douglas, Shayne Lynch and Kelcey Allen achieving passes with merit.

10 students passed the ABRSM Piano Practical this year, with Machado Joseph achieving a pass with merit.

Also, Elliot Providence passed the ABRSM Violin Practical this year with merit.

The audience at the celebration enjoyed performances from Alyana Davis, Nathan Browne, Janae Hall, Chazze and Ezonte Ledger, Halei Williams Douglas, Melissa and Lennox Jr Adams, Nailah Jack, Brandon Browne, Saeed Bowman, Oneil Sprott, Shayne Lynche, Geron Maule, Keon Richardson and Deon Allen. (AS)