Maples Group Support Music Programme at BVI High School

The Maples Group is proud to announce its support of the newly built music classrooms at Elmore Stoutt High School ("ESHS") in the British Virgin Islands.

Since the 2017 hurricanes, due to extensive damage to their facilities, ESHS has been unable to offer an abundance of extra-curricular activities. The Maples Group partnered with BVI Alliance and Unite BVI to fund the development of the new classrooms through a local community initiative identified by the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (the "RDA").

Over 100 students have enrolled in the popular music programme this year which was formally matriculated into the school's curriculum in 1980.

The Maples Group also sponsored the purchase of 29 new musical instruments which included 10 flutes, 10 clarinets, 5 alto saxophones, 2 tenor saxophones, 1 baritone saxophone and 1 trumpet.

Last month, students and teachers from ESHS welcomed the arrival of the new instruments with great excitement and marked the occasion with a formal handover of the instruments to the school's Deputy Principal, Mr. Cecil Hodge and the Head of the Music Department, Andre Brathwaite. Connie George, Chief Education officer, Dr. the Honourable, Natalio Wheatley and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture were also present at the presentation.

BVI Managing Partner of Maples and Calder, the Maples Group's law firm, Richard May attended the school's annual Christmas concert on Saturday and had this to say, "The Maples Group is passionate about supporting and developing our local communities with a particular focus on youth, education, arts and culture. We are delighted to be supporting the music programme at Elmore Stoutt High School which is a progamme that not only supports educating our youth about the importance of arts and culture but also brings our community together. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the Elmore Stoutt High School and its teaching staff on this important initiative."

The much-anticipated annual Christmas concert included performances from the Senior Concert Band, Junior Concert Band, Senior Steel Pan, Junior Steel Pan, the Jazz Ensemble and the Choir.

Commenting on the project, Paul Bayly, CEO of the RDA added, "The education system of this Territory was immensely disrupted after the 2017 hurricane and as an agency, it was important to us to deliver the Government’s priorities’ in returning the education system to a place of normalcy. We are extremely grateful that the music classrooms project supported this initiative and of course, this could not have been done without the generous support of our donors the Unite BVI Foundation, Maples Group and BVI Alliance."

The Education Minister, Honourable Wheatley who was present at the presentation of the musical instruments added, “I would also like to recognise the Maples Group for their generosity towards purchasing the Musical Instruments. The Maples Group has made it possible for the music programme to be strengthened and for that we say thank you. I’ll also thank the RDA, the implementation agency of the Government, for the important role they played in getting the instruments to the students.”