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PROFILE - Paulette Bellamy,
OD,
LRSM, ATCL, LTCL, FTCL
Paulette Bellamy started playing the piano at 4 years
old under the watchful eye of her mother, Mrs. Linnette
Case, a dedicated music teacher. At 10 years old, she
began violin studies with Miss Doris Livingston at the
same time as Carol Gascoigne-Smith. Encouraged to team
up, they became known as "the musical twins" whether as
a piano duo or as a piano/violin combination, a
partnership that still exists today. |
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With
parental insistence, Paulette's musical training became
subordinate to her academic studies at Wolmer's Girls
School and at UWI Mona. At both
institutions, however, she participated in numerous musical and
theatrical productions. And to hone her skills,
she accepted extra-curricula invitations from the Jamaica Amateur
Operatic Society and Jamaica Philharmonic Orchestra to perform as piano
accompanist and violinist, respectively.
Today, Paulette is a celebrated classical piano accompanist, violinist,
music teacher, composer and arranger, whose usually quiet disposition
bursts into exuberant vitality on stage. Her gold-medal
performances in the Jamaica Festival span several years, and no doubt
inspired the formation of "Touch of Elegance", a blend of keyboard and
strings by accomplished, versatile instrumentalists. Touch of
Elegance produces unique and exciting arrangements of Classical,
Popular, Reggae and Folk tunes which never fail to please its audiences.
The ensemble has performed (from Mozart to Marley) locally and
internationally over the past twenty-one years at concerts, banquets,
weddings and awards ceremonies, and has received several awards as best
instrumental ensemble as it continues to delight audiences with a varied
and extensive repertoire.
Gratefully, Paulette still marvels at Jamaica's wealth of melodious folk
tunes and has been inspired to arrange them for solo instruments and
ensembles. Her "Improvisations of Jackass a Jump and Bray"
(listen to audio clip) was
presented by the "Wings of Song" ensemble and, with eager interest, Paul
Shaw (international pianist and lecturer) also included it in his recent
CD entitled "On Tour".
Over the years, Paulette had tutored scores of Jamaica's leading
performers and has inspired many to pursue careers as music teachers.
Paulette's early exposure to Theatre and Drama paved the way for
her priceless contribution as co-founder of Ashe Performing Arts
Ensemble, which has performed in the U.S.A., Canada, Mexico, the United
Kingdom, Europe, Thailand, Ghana and the Caribbean.
In addition to performing, Paulette now sets aside time to polish the
skills of talented violinists, instrumentalists and vocalists as she
inspires them to feel the correct interpretation in playing pieces
slated for command and other special performances.
Despite her busy schedule, Paulette manages to find time for husband -
Barry, three children - Nikki, Dario and Rishille, and six
grandchildren.
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