Nassau, The Bahamas, March 24, 2021 – Colina Insurance Limited (Colina) continued its enduring partnership with the Nassau Music Society, donating five thousand dollars to fund a music education series targeting students across the country.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Nassau Music Society and look forward, with great anticipation, to their concert season each year,” said Maxine Seymour, Director, Corporate Communications, Colina.

“The Society continues to have a tremendous impact on our community through music education, ensuring that students across our country have access to world-class artists in various genres,” said Seymour.

This year, the Nassau Music Society will host their 52nd concert season virtually. The “Celebrate WE!” series will feature curated performance videos and educational “info-citals” spotlighting Caribbean composers of art music. The series will be performed by C-Force: a trio of faculty members from University of The Bahamas.”

“Music education is an important part of our mission, even during a pandemic, and so we made the necessary adjustments to host this year’s children’s concerts on digital platforms,” said Cynthia Van Wynen, Executive Director of the Nassau Music Society. “Our partnership with the Music Department at University of The Bahamas means that world-class musicians who are also educators will expose our nation’s students to leading Caribbean composers as we Celebrate WE!”

“Colina’s generous donation and consistent support over the years is what makes this all possible,” Van Wynen continued. “Thanks to Colina, we expect to broaden our reach by impacting even more students, including those on the Family Islands, virtually this year.”

“My ongoing research on Caribbean music and composers has led to many unique performance opportunities, and more significantly – educational and mentorship opportunities,” said Christine Gangelhoff, Associate Professor of Music, University of The Bahamas.

“In many music education programs, students learn primarily about composers from the European tradition,” Gangelhoff continued. “In Celebrating WE!, the focus is on composers and music from the Caribbean region, providing an opportunity for students to experience music that will feel more relevant and inspiring.”

Thus far, Centreville Primary School (New Providence); Lewis Yard Primary School (Grand Bahama); Samuel Guy Pinder All Age School (Spanish Wells, Eleuthera); and Hugh Campbell Primary School (Grand Bahama) all participated in the Celebrating WE! children’s concerts. Students from some of the schools viewed the concerts outdoors under tents while some divided into smaller groupings in classrooms. In all case, health protocols were strictly adhered to.

The final installment takes place on Friday, March 26 when students from D. W. Davis Junior High School (New Providence) and Harbour Island All-Age School (Harbour Island) are expected to attend the virtual concerts.

In addition to the concerts, the Nassau Music Society hosted an educational video series on their Facebook or YouTube pages targeting primary school children every Sunday during the month of March.

Recordings of the virtual children’s concerts are available. Interested schools may contact the Society via email at [email protected] or Facebook messenger.

About Colina Insurance Limited (Colina)

Colina is a diversified financial services company, offering comprehensive life and health insurance solutions. Colina is wholly-owned by Colina Holdings Bahamas Limited (CHBL). CHBL is a Bahamian Company, built on a firm foundation of trust, integrity and responsibility. Colina has evolved over the past 155 years to become The Bahamas’ largest life and health insurer, with a solid reputation for providing insurance and related financial services products that help clients prepare for life’s unexpected events.

About the Nassau Music Society

The Nassau Music Society is a non-profit, charitable organization founded in 1968 by the late Clement E. Bethel, a champion of the arts and an icon of Bahamian culture. During the last 52 years, NMS has presented an annual world-class concert series, offered free masterclasses by our visiting artists, run student enrichment and outreach programs, and provided financial assistance to Bahamian music students studying abroad or at University of The Bahamas. www.thenassaumusicsociety.org

About C-Force

Formed in 2008, C-Force is a chamber ensemble that offers a unique approach to the traditional concept of chamber music. The group performs a wide range of classical, regional and world music. The members of the ensemble, Dr. Christine Gangelhoff, Dr. Paul Jones and Mr. Chris Justilien are faculty of the music department at University of The Bahamas.