Steven Woodham - photo by Nathaniel Stewart
Most afternoons, classical musician Steven Woodham can be found standing by a large brown piano at Immaculate Conception High School while tuning the violins of the many students who queue up.
He was very welcoming when The Sunday Gleaner visited a recent rehearsal at the Constant Spring Road, St Andrew, school. At first, it seemed confusing, as the group of students prepared to practise, all of them playing an instrument of some sort or fixing their manuscripts.
strong structure
Suddenly, the chaos transformed into beautiful music as Woodham's firm structure stood in front of them and he instructed them to begin. The passionate musical director seemed pleased to hear the students play Christmas songs they have been practising for the school's 150th Anniversary Gala Presentation in December.
"Do you hear that? Isn't that just beautiful," said Woodham, getting up to look at the school choir, concert band and orchestra, minutes after he sat for the interview.
Woodham said he was drawn to music, more so classical music, at an early age, as his mother was also a violinist. He started playing the violin at eight years old and later learnt how to play the viola.
"I find it (classical music) the most intellectual of all. Therefore, I find it quite stimu-lating," Woodham told The Sunday Gleaner.
deep love for music
Though he had a deep love for music he contemplated medical school. However, "if I went to medical school I could go to music school after but not the other way around", he said.
Woodham has been to some of the best music schools in the world. He did bachelor's and master's degrees in violin perfor-mance and music education, and chamber music at the Ferenc Liszt College of Music in Hungary. He also did a stint at the Boston Conservatory of Music, Dance and Drama, where he earned an artist diploma in violin performance.
He has also performed around the world, making some note-worthy public appearances at the 'Jamaica to Schenctady' in New York (1998), Kurt Weill Festival in Massachusetts (1990), Basilica De La Habana in Cuba (2000) and Steven Woodham and Paula Jackson Benefit Concert at the Jamaica School of Music (1993).
Woodham has also been adding many accolades to his collection over the years. Among them are first place in the Hungarian National Leo Weiner Memorial Competition (1983), Best Classical Performer in the Jamaica Music Industry Awards (1992) and special prize at the 12th Rodolfo Lipizer International Violin Competition in Italy.
no limitations
But he did not limit himself, as he has been involved in film, modelling, dance and media, all of which have given him additional fame.
"I have had a lot of interesting moments and I hope to have many more interesting moments. I have always done my best and it has always been at a high standard. I have done a lot," he said.
After many years abroad, Woodham decided to come back to Jamaica and give back to his island of birth by teaching at Immaculate Conception High School.
interesting performance
"To say that I am doing this for the love of it just reduces it. I find what I am doing right now very interesting," he said.
Woodham said that his giving back to society through music would go a far way in helping to uplift the youths and make the society a better one. But it is also a part of his life that he is enjoying. "It has been a labour of love, but not without the help of the other tutors who have been equally outstanding and for which I am very grateful," he told The Sunday Gleaner.
Tutors who help Woodham at Immaculate Conception High School are Pauline Gordon (head of the music department), Olga Moraguez, Allison Wallace, Joseph Campbell, Evelin Calnick, Daniel Eggert, Zachary Yap, Alexandra Slay, Althea Jackson, Helen Tomlinson, Debra-Ann Davidson and Philip Andrews.