MUSICOLOGIST Marjorie Whylie is one of the honorees at this year’s Jamaica Poetry Festival set for August 14 at the AC Hotel Kingston.

The researcher, lecturer, vocal coach, pianist and percussionist is set to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to nation building. According to the organisers, Whylie was a close friend and colleague of renowned folklorist Louise “Miss Lou” Bennett Coverley and is one of Jamaica’s celebrated cultural icons, educational leaders and musical maestros. Therefore, it is only fitting that in Jamaica’s 60th anniversary year Marjorie Whylie is being bestowed with the Jamaica Poetry Festival Lifetime Achievement Award designed to identify, celebrate, showcase and honour artistic brilliance, and literary and cultural excellence in nation building.

Whylie has expressed gratitude at being considered for this recognition.

“I have not been very well and such an honour lifts my spirit — and I am particularly touched by the understanding of my research and opportunities to share my talent, skills and education through my work. I am honoured to be considered for such an award and accept [it] with gratitude and humility. I have been a performer on stage and in concerts from age five and on radio two years later. It has been years of growth and development in classical, jazz, popular and Jamaican cultural forms,” said Whylie.

The organisers further note that Whylie has been at the forefront of cultural research, education and development, and has consistently shared her talent and skills through the various positions she has held at Kingston College, the Social Development Commission, The Jamaica Festival Commission, the Folk Music Research Department at the School of Music of Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, the music unit of The University of the West Indies, and through a number of assignments in the USA, the Caribbean and Europe.

“I have enjoyed being an accompanist on piano to singers and instrumentalists, leader of the LTM pantomime orchestra for a few years, pianist and hand drummer for the National Dance Theatre Company, becoming a member of the orchestra in 1962 and musical director in 1966. All of this activity challenged me to compose and arrange for theatrical productions and dance, and led also to my composing a mass, hymns and canticles for worship for the Presbyterian and Methodist churches and the Anglican communion.”

The 12th annual Jamaica Poetry Festival will feature celebrated Jamaican pianist Monty Alexander, Skip Marley, Professor Mervyn Morris, Yasus Afari, Dr Michael Abrahams, Poet Laureate of Toronto in Canada George Elliott Clarke, Ghanaian-American Ebony Payne, Sammoya Banton, Kai Falconer, Calvin Mitchell, Simone Absolom-Gayle and Mark Stephenson.