Richard May, managing partner at Maples and Calder, gestures as he delivers remarks at the handing-over ceremony of musical equipment to the Elmore Stoutt High School Music Programme on Wednesday, March 15.

By MERRICK ANDREWS, Online News Editor

(JTV News) — Richard May, the managing partner of Maples and Calder — the Maples Group’s law firm — said his company is ready to make another financial contribution to the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) Music Programme.

He made the announcement during a ceremony on Wednesday where the company officially handed over 62 new musical instruments — two bass guitars, seven alto saxophones, 15 clarinets, 15 flutes, five trombones, three tenor saxophones, and 15 trumpets — to the Programme.

“This remains an ongoing commitment,” he said. “We are ready to do our next round of funding. We had a conversation just before about this. We don’t know what that is though because the big question now is you got all this equipment — we can help you get more — but you got a space issue, so that’s what we need to talk about…”

John Primo, the director of procurement at the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), lauded the Maples Group during the ceremony, noting their “high level” of commitment to the school’s music programme and support of music education in the territory.

He said the company has forged a “solid partnership” with the BVI authorities over the past five years, donating over $160,000, to date.

Primo said in 2019, the company donated $100,000 to help in the construction of the ESHS music classrooms that were destroyed by the hurricane; $12,500 in 2020 for additional classical instruments; $28,000 in late 2020 to sponsor the school’s band; and $20,000 in November 2022 for additional musical instruments.

Primo told the students at the ceremony that, according to reports, playing musical instruments “makes you smarter”.

“A few researchers have determined that musical study develops critical thinking and self-discipline, as well as cognitive development, basic math and reading abilities at an early age. In addition to these skills, students who are involved in a music programme have a higher self-esteem, a greater sense of teamwork, better school attendance, and are less likely to become involved in gangs and substance abuse. We are confident that the students of this programme and this great school will produce some of the future leaders of this territory,” he said.

Speaking at the ceremony, Education Minister Sharie de Castro also expressed her government’s gratitude to the Maples Group. She added that though the government will do its part in funding the education sector, public-private partnerships, like with companies such as Maples, “will truly cement a partnership that will last, I believe, forever”.

De Castro recalled that she was a former student and teacher at ESHS.

“I now stand here humbly as the minister and I understand the reality that teachers can only do so much. If they don’t have the resources they are not able to bring forth the type of talent we want to see,” she said.

May said he was “encouraged” by the words of the minister. He then went on to explain how Maples worked out how to make the sponsorship more effective.

“Our biggest concern, when we looked at what to do with the RDA, was how we can make an impact when we are not a mega donor. How do you actually translate the cash we got into something real? The cash we had through RDA, with support from the ministry, the high school, everyone around that, produce these….,” he said at the ceremony.

The Maples executive said the Programme received very good equipment compared to what he used during his school days.

“I went to a very privileged school with lots of equipment for this sort of stuff — and this is better. What you got now is amazing,” he said.

May said the musical talent in the BVI is “huge” based on what he has seen at local events. He said he looks forward to the next “big concert” and the next “big star” from the BVI.

He emphasised the benefits of music.

“We agree, as most adults do, that having access to this sort of stuff is not just about your life right now. It’s just life generally. Music is awesome. Y’all like different versions of music and you probably hate the music I like but in the end music — it’s awesome — and you can have happiness, jobs, lives, whatever. It brings all those things,” he said.

Magdalene Barzey, head of the ESHS Music Programme, also expressed her gratitude. She said the programme is “very expensive” and there is a lot more that needs to be done.

“We do have a long way to go,” she noted.

However, Barzey said she is really appreciative “for what we have here”, coming from “such a distance from playing under tents and on dirt”.

The donation comes as the territory celebrates Education Week from March 13-19 under the theme “Virgin Islands Education: Moving Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead”. S.T.E.A.M stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.