Alpha final year students are introduced to the art of event lighting and a whole new world opens up.
With Alpha School of Music graduating students preparing for their final year showcase set for Thursday May 14 in the Alpha Courtyard, the Class of 2026 graduating class recently went behind the scenes with lighting specialist Nadia Roxburgh during a visit to the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts at the University of the West Indies, Mona (UWI).
Roxburgh led the Alpha students through various lighting situations designed to increase their awareness about the impact of lighting and how it can elevate their upcoming performances. At their graduation showcase, entitled, The Final Countdown, Alpha students will have total control over the production, managing everything from the sound, to the talent, to the lighting.
“Initially, I did not fully comprehend the role that lighting played in relation to music, nor the extent of its impact on the overall quality and presentation of our showcase,” says final year music student Josh-Lemar Palmer, ’26. ” But after working with Ms Roxburgh, it’s like a lightbulb went off. Me and my classmates have so many new ideas now—we aren’t just playing music, we’re building an audio and visual experience.”
Nadia Roxburgh enjoys the impact of lighting and lighting workshops. “In entertainment, lighting can have just as much impact on the audience as the instruments and artists on stage,” she said. “Seeing Alpha School of Music realize the value of including lighting in their production plan is why we do these workshops. I am looking forward to seeing how they work with lighting at their event on May 14.”
