Winston Ewart: A remarkable journey

When the National Chorale of Jamaica (NCOJ) opens its classical season with Songs of Faith & Freedom today, Winston Ewart will be among those in the audience at the University Chapel in Mona, St Andrew. Rather than standing in the spotlight enthusiastically directing the chorale, the ensemble’s founding member will be taking in the performance from his seat.

A founding member of the NCOJ, one of the country’s most respected and enduring choral ensembles for 53 years, Ewart has distinguished himself on the national stage during his tenure. In October 2019, he was awarded the Gold Musgrave Medal for distinguished eminence in the arts (music) and, in August 2021, he was conferred with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer for his contribution to the arts.

Among the major works he has conducted are George Frideric Handel’s Messiah, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast, Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas cantatas, and Felix Mendelssohn’s Elijah.

A consummate professional, Ewart has now handed over the baton to bass-baritone soloist and educator Michael Sutherland. Ewart had viewed Sutherland as a potential successor and wished him “many successful years as the new director”.

Ewart, however, was quite frank about how he will view Sutherland’s first outing. “Yes, I am looking forward [to Sunday’s performance]. However, I’m listening with a very critical ear. And when I say critical, I mean very, very critical,” Ewart told The Sunday Gleaner. “Because … pretending to be something that you are not is just not good enough.”

He hopes that the current musical director will take charge and get the best out of his chorale because “without that effort, it’s not going to be good”.

“And singing just for the sake of singing or for presenting a concert is just not good enough. Mr Sutherland, with his musical acumen, should aim to bring out the very best in the group that he has. He has inherited a group that produces high standards of music ... to fall below this mark would just not be good enough,” Ewart stated.

And, as if speaking directly to Sutherland, Ewart offered words of encouragement.

“But Michael, I know that you have the talent to bring out the best in the chorale, so go for it. Go for it,” the former director said. “I hope that the chorale will grow under his direction. In my years directing, I saw that he had many musical attributes which would work, and I hope he will build on those and develop the group even further.”

Founding member

Ewart began his remarkable journey with the NCOJ more than half a century ago as a founding member in the tenor section, eventually progressing to line leader, chorus master and then taking charge as musical director.

Reflecting on those early days that he had spent with like-minded friends who simply wanted to promote choral music, he said he never envisioned the group reaching its golden 50-year milestone.

“I thought it was just a group to occupy the time. People who wanted to sing … and it was on a Sunday and on a Wednesday. So that was it, just something to occupy the time, not something going on to this national level,” Ewart said.

Ewart’s musical journey, which intersected with banking, where he started, has seen him onstage conducting Handel’s Messiah, serving as the organist and choir master at Christ Church Anglican for more than 50 years, teaching music and even conducting official funerals. He has, and continues to, thoroughly enjoy it all.

“Many people do not realise that most classical music has a religious background and because of working with choirs, et cetera, I was able to conduct the funerals for Dudley Thompson, Michael Manley and Hugh Shearer,” Ewart shared.

He continued, “And … even the queen ... one forgets the queen in all of this. But, for the queen’s visit, the chorale sang, and music, being what it is, was able to embrace all those ideas and bring them all together as well.”

He shared a fond memory from the visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Jamaica.

“A curiosity that happened during the queen’s visit was that there was a power cut and King’s House was in darkness,” Ewart recalled.

But that was not enough to stop the music.

“And out came the lamps … ‘Home Sweet Home’ … and the music continued.”

Many students and musicians name Ewart as a foundational mentor who shaped their musical abilities. Quizzed about his core philosophy when trying to pull the best out of apprehensive musicians, Ewart said modestly that he “didn’t know what the musicians are saying”.

“However, I decided that I would teach voice. Of all things voice... because I never studied the voice. I was a pianist. The first exam I entered students for was Grade 5, and they all got distinctions, and then Grade 8 and all got distinctions. And I thought, ‘That’s not a challenge. Let me go for the diplomas.’ And I went straight ahead. Did the diploma. Brenton McLean. Jasmine Holness, Christine McDonald ... and they all did very, very well,” he said.

Ewart also reminisced about his own mentors who helped shape his path.

“There are a lot of people who I could emulate ... for instance Jim Verity, who was the conductor of the Jamaica Choral Orchestral Society. I would watch what he would do at his rehearsals. I was a youngster then, but I watched. And I think I learned,” he said on reflection.

Ewart, who worked at Barclays Bank, DCO (now NCB), from 1969, and who speaks highly of his then boss, Don Banks, was seconded in September 1996 to the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts as director of studies for music. He was later promoted to vice principal – administration and development, until his resignation in 2007. He served for a short while as music specialist at the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission and then took up the position as coordinator for the Master of Business Administration Programme at the University of Technology.

Ewart has also served several times as president of the Jamaica Music Teachers’ Association.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com