BASSETERRE St. Kitts, July 31st, 2013 -- PRIDE AND SATISFACTION were the feelings expressed on the faces of the numerous patrons as they filed out of the Sir Cecil Jacobs auditorium of the East Caribbean Central Bank on Saturday night (July 27, 2013).
They had just seen and heard a daughter of the soil, Daveda Browne, perform her debut solo concert in “Opera”, “R&B”, and “Gospel”; they had just had the rare experience of rating the musical expertise of a local artiste who had taken her talent and determination to professional heights; they had just witnessed excellence… hence their pride and satisfaction.
Daveda Browne, now a professional mezzo soprano, was a protégée of the Hulda Lawrence School of Music before migrating to the United States of America where her dreams blossomed as she continued her studies in Music. She began singing publicly at the age of ten at the Mount Carmel Baptist and Estridge Moravian Churches in St. Kitts and has also had early training in music (voice and piano) by Dawn Mills and Ian Hodge.
She recently earned her Masters Degree at Montclair State University’s John Cali School of Music in 2013. She has also honed her skills in voice through participation in various prestigious choirs in the USA which took her on musical tours to Canada, Austria, Italy, China, Portugal and France.
Before a packed hall at the Sir Cecil Jacobs auditorium, Da – Deva, (her professional name) wowed all with the range and control she had over her voice. The polished renditions of Italian, Russian and French classical pieces compare favourably with those of any other professional singer on the global stage.
In the post-intermission segment of R & B and Gospel, she was not afraid to match her voice to that of Whitney Houston, among others, in her rendition of “I will always love you” and when weighed in the balances, she was not found wanting.
Christian Nathaniel and Clilia Davis also gave very skillful and sensitive performances as they accompanied her on the piano.
It was truly a night when the St. Kitts community, from the Governor General and Prime Minister to her local classmates, fellow church goers and family, witnessed their ‘local girl making good’. Da –Deva has done her country, her friends and her family proud and was the living example of the saying, “If you can conceive it and believe it, you can achieve it.” A role model indeed!
Complementary renditions by Clyde Christopher and his group of local singers, and Enoete Inanga on his trumpet, were also warmly received and appreciated and the duet with Da-Veda and Larry Vaughan received a standing ovation. The Royalties Band is also to be commended.
Dawn Mills, as MC, kept the programme moving along with an easy, conversational style that retained smiles on the faces of the relaxed and satisfied audience.
Overall the warm feelings, admiration and range of support displayed in the biographical booklet marking her St. Kitts debut resulted in a satisfied air. At the end of the performance patrons mulled around wanting to be photographed with the ‘star’ of the evening.
We congratulate Da-Deva on her sterling performance and wish her many, many more outstanding years as a professional singer.
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