Alpha School of Music and Borough of Manhattan Community College forge historic music education partnership

Jamaican Consulate General of Jamaica in New York supports

Gay Magnus (right), Director of Music at Alpha School of Music and Dr Anthony E Munroe (second left), President of the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) sign the memorandum of understanding between the schools on Friday, June 6, 2025. The MOU was witnessed at Alpha’s South Camp Road Campus by (from left) BMCC Vice President of Enrollment Management Dr Sanjay Ramdath; Community Relations Officer at the Consulate General of Jamaica - New York Christopher Benjamin; Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith; and Sisters of Mercy Jamaica CEO Marcia Tai Chun. The agreement will allow for students from each school to participate and register for certain classes at the other. 

Gay Magnus, Director of the Alpha School of Music and Dr. Anthony E. Munroe, President of the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

In an event held at Alpha’s 26 South Camp Road campus in Kingston the two heads of schools signed the international partnership marking a significant step in expanding global music education, cultural exchange, and youth development for both schools.

Director Gay Magnus said coming just days after the first graduates received their Associate Degree of Arts in Music Performance and the observance of Alpha’s 145th anniversary, the partnership signals Alpha’s music programme is again at the forefront of music education.

“Collaboration has always been the heart of great musical innovation,” she said at the signing on June 6, 2025. “From Ska to Hip Hop, these genres remind us that music is most powerful when it brings different worlds together. That same spirit of fusion and experimentation is what we hope to inspire in our students through this partnership: a readiness to learn from each other and to create something new.”

Magnus said launching in September 2025, the Alpha and BMCC partnership will offer a dynamic platform for students from both institutions to engage in hybrid Jamaican popular music programmes; joint lectures and virtual exchanges; cross-cultural explorations — from BMCC jazz sessions to Alpha’s deep dives into Ska; and “Creative Fusion Across Borders” — bridging genres to foster innovation and mutual understanding.

Dr. Munroe said in his address: “My parents emigrated from Jamaica to New York City, carrying with them a deep respect for education and the arts. Today, as President of BMCC, I am thrilled to formalise an academic bridge between two institutions that share the same passion.” He added, “We at BMCC are proud to walk this path with the Alpha School of Music. Together, we will ensure that our students — whether in Lower Manhattan or downtown Kingston — have every opportunity to be curious, to create, and to lead.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith is guided on a tour of the state-of-the-art Alpha School of Music technology studio in Kingston by  Sisters of Mercy Jamaica CEO Marcia Tai Chun (left) and Alpha Institute Administrator Margaret Little Wilson.

The ceremony was attended by Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; Christopher Benjamin, Community Relations Officer who represented the Consul General Mrs. Alsion Roach Wilson; Marcia Tai Chun, CEO of the Sisters of Mercy of Jamaica; Sanjay Ramdath, Vice President of Enrollment Management at BMCC; and Margaret Little Wilson, Alpha School of Music Administrator.

The partnership between Alpha and BMCC has been made possible with key support from the Consulate General of Jamaica in New York, whose contributions have been pivotal in facilitating this collaboration. In her remarks, Senator Johnson Smith lauded the programme’s focus on collaboration and creativity and praised the initiative as a forward-looking investment in young people, both in Jamaica and New York City.

“This partnership is one that aligns with Jamaica's commitment to expanding academic opportunities and enhancing skills development,” she said. “I applaud the pivotal role of Consul General, Alsion Wilson and her team in New York for facilitating partnerships that bridge Jamaica and its Diaspora.”

Speaking on the role of the Consulate, Consul General Wilson noted, “Our mission is to serve as a bridge between Jamaica and the global community — fostering opportunities that bring tangible benefits to Jamaicans at home. Whether in education, business, or the arts, we are committed to opening doors that uplift and empower our people.”

ABOUT THE ALPHA SCHOOL OF MUSIC

The Associate Degree in Music Performance at the Alpha School of Music is a two-year programme developed to train men and women for the commercial music and entertainment industry. It is the only tertiary programme in Jamaica that focuses on ensemble performance and also offers two pre-qualifying years of instruction for students who do not have the requisite knowledge to enter the Associate Degree programme.

ABOUT BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system, BMCC offers the Associate of Science (A.S.) degree program in Music with specialisations in: Music Studies, Music Education, Music Performance, Jazz and Popular Music.  The programme prepares students for further study and a range of occupations. Located in the heart of New York City, BMCC embodies the bustling energy of the Big Apple’s cultural hub. At BMCC, every student is not just a learner but a vital part of a diverse community.