Sasha Gay Sutherland, a participant in the Voice Box Summer Singing Intensive, will fulfill her lifelong dream this September after receiving a $500,000 scholarship to pursue a Bachelor of Music in Performance at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.
The scholarship, funded by the Tessanne Chin Foundation, was presented to Sutherland on stage immediately following her performance at the ‘Our Song’ showcase, a highlight of the Voice Box Summer Singing Intensive held at the Campion College auditorium in St. Andrew.
Voice Box, a creative development programme founded by Tessanne Chin, focuses on nurturing the talents of children aged six to 18, providing a platform for them to explore the possibilities within the creative arts. The Summer Singing Intensive, which ran from August 7 to 24, offered participants the chance to refine their vocal abilities under the guidance of Chin and other experienced vocal coaches. Sutherland, who excelled among the 50 enrolled participants, was recognized as a standout performer.
“I feel really, really, really grateful, and it was not expected. I am truly grateful,” Sutherland expressed, reflecting on the scholarship. She explained that her passion for music has been unwavering since childhood, having started singing in church at the age of three.
Returning to the programme for a second year, Sutherland shared that the experience further solidified her desire to produce gospel music that could take her around the world. A devout Christian, she credits her musical growth to years of singing at her home church, Eastwood New Testament Church of God.
“I’m looking forward to going all over the world and using my ministry to minister to people and spread the gospel of God,” she added.
A recent graduate of Eltham High School in St. Catherine, Sutherland had initially planned to rely on support from relatives and her earnings from a summer job to fund her studies. The scholarship, therefore, came as a significant relief.
Tessanne Chin, the renowned recording artist and founder of Voice Box, emphasized the importance of giving back to the community that has supported her career. “Sasha is a gifted student, and we believe in her so much. We are incredibly proud to present our very first scholarship to her tonight to help her pursue her dreams at Edna Manley. She is everything you look for in not just a student, but in someone who will go on to achieve great things,” Chin said.
Chin noted that many parents struggle to afford voice lessons for their children, which motivated her to return with the Summer Singing Intensive programme for a second year.
The idea for Voice Box originated from a request to help Chin’s daughter prepare for an audition.
In summer 2023, Voice Box’s Summer Singing Intensive trained approximately 30 children. This year’s programme was sponsored by Scotiabank, Wisynco, Digicel Foundation, Sagicor, the Tourism Enhancement Fund, GraceKennedy, and Tastee.
