This concert at Christ Church Deer Park offers a rare and compelling journey through organ music by composers of Jamaican and West Indian heritage. Spanning from the Baroque era to the present day, the program highlights the work of Samuel Felsted, Jamaica’s first classical composer.
The Program
Rising star Joshua Duncan-Lee will lead the performance, featuring excerpts from Felsted’s *Jonah* (1775)—the first oratorio written in the Western Hemisphere. The program also includes works by Noel Da Costa, Craig Alistair Bloomfield, and Toronto-based composers Rashaan Rori Allwood and Ted Runcie. You’ll also hear an excerpt from Joseph Bologne’s *L’Amant Anonyme*, the first surviving opera by a West Indies-born composer.
Why It Matters
This concert is part of an ongoing initiative to raise support for the full Canadian premiere of *Jonah* with an orchestral accompaniment. By attending, you’re not just hearing beautiful music; you’re supporting a project that brings long-overlooked historical works to the forefront of the Toronto classical scene. It’s a treat for the ears and a significant contribution to our local musical landscape.
