GoodHeart | Black Angel Foundation awards $1.4m in music scholarships
Published:Saturday | March 15, 2025 | 12:07 AM
The Black Angel Foundation (BAF) awarded $1.4 million in music scholarships to six deserving Jamaican students at its ‘Riddimz of Love’ event. The recipients of the 2025-26 BAF music scholarships include Douglas Stewart Jr. from Mona Prep, Shailene Thompson from George Headley Primary, Ruth Samuels and Chadmark Ketto from Edna Manley College, and two students to be selected from the Alpha Institute.
Guests at the food-and-drinks-inclusive Valentine’s Day party– held in the gardens of Bridget Sandals– enjoyed music from DJ Narity and DJ Insaneo, along with live performances throughout the evening. The annual fundraising event featured special sets from Panic, Ras I, and veteran dancehall artiste Nitty Kutchie.
Other performances included piano recitals from scholarship recipients Shaliane Thompson and Douglas Stewart Jr., a saxophone performance from Ruth Samuels, a third-year Edna Manley College student, and a vocal performance by former Digicel Rising Stars winner Mozein. The evening’s main stage performers opened with a talented band from The Compound.
According to BAF Director Jonathon Buchanan, “We are very grateful for the support the Black Angel Foundation has received over the past four years. The money raised will make a huge difference to the foundation’s scholarship fund and enable more students to be assisted with their musical ambitions. The foundation believes it is important to keep music education alive as the creative industries is one of the key sectors in the economy that has great potential to positively impact our nation’s growth and development.”
The BAF music scholarship fund was established in 2020 with a commitment to providing opportunities and guidance to students interested in music as a profession. “Our vision is to ensure Jamaica’s under-served music students remain globally competitive, by having access to the right tools and resources they need to succeed,” said BAF representative Rosie Reynolds as she presented two scholarships to third-year Edna Manley College music students.
The goal of the Black Angel Foundation is to continue to strengthen Jamaica’s music legacy by supporting more students with music scholarships and expand the Foundation’s impact across the island. To date, the BAF has awarded over $5 million in music scholarships while providing private tutoring and training camps for its 18 recipients. Instrumental in the success of this year’s event were sponsors Bridget Sandals, Kool FM, SWAT Elite, Far Eye Film Production and Jamaica Arts Holdings, along with the tireless efforts of Foundation volunteers.