Rosemand’s Academy: A platform for talented youth

She was enrolled in Pan Piper’s Music School in St Augustine, which was affiliated with Carol La Chappelle workshop.

There she learned piano, guitar, pan and vocals. The school’s productions incorporated dance and theatre and at age seven Nurse took on leading roles.

She wanted to play all the steelpans, including the cello and double bass, and continued her arts training into her teenage years and did more personalised training in piano and vocals.

She joined a group called Youth Pulse and there she was exposed to R&B and jazz.

“I just fell in love with music and performing,” she said.

At age 14 her mother suggested that instead of singing people’s songs she should write her own. Initially Nurse was reluctant but when her mother challenged her she gave in. She explained that their relationship is such that they insist every generation should be better than the next. At that time she had some inspirational writings which she had planned to compile and release.

At age 18 she started working with a calypso/ soca producer on her first album, which was a mixture of gospel, inspirational and classical. The album, however, did not work out.

“I felt so disappointed,” she said.

Nurse got a scholarship to study medicine at Yale University in Connecticut, but opted to remain in TT to study psychology at the University of the West Indies. She was not passionate about that field but felt it was conventional and what everyone wanted to hear.

However, she continued with her music and one producer kept urging her to record.

“I loved performing but I had no interest in being a recording artist,” she said.

While doing demos the producer passed away and Nurse took that as a sign that she should not be pursuing this career.

She tried to figure out what she wanted to do and always felt like something was missing. When her mother opened a cosmetic store Nurse helped her out. While there a friend asked if she was interested in being a vocal coach and she agreed, a vocation that she “fell in love with”.

In her new role she met a number of talented people who were also very frustrated because they did not understand the business of music and entertainment and were being short-changed.

“You have to put value on what you have to present. You cannot expect other people to put that value,” she stressed.

It was not only something she was passionate about but an experience she could relate to as a young frustrated artist.

Her clients ranged from eight to their 30’s and the Artist Development Programme was created to suit their needs. The programme included vocal training, acting classes, the business side of music and cardio to build stamina and the lungs for vocals.

“It was a very holistic programme and one not being done in Trinidad,” she said.

With ten adults and a few younger students, she launched Rosemand’s Vocal and Performance Academy in 2014, named after her late grandmother.

However, the older students were not so enthusiastic to put out the work and she found herself giving a lot of energy but not getting the returns.

The passion she had at the opening of the school was starting to die. The following year she launched the kids and teen programme and she eventually decided to dissolve the Artist Development Programme, though she would still continue working with up and coming artists.

For the children she developed a simplified version of the programme, teaching them vocals, theatre, interview skills and helping them build a portfolio with photos.

For her the major thing was to build platforms for her students. It was her intention to build the individual first and then the performer.

Among the school’s many projects was a music video cover and a Christmas production last December entitled “A Christmas Story” at the Central Bank Auditorium.

They are currently working on a nine-episode variety television series which they hope to launch in March, as well as a 70s musical theatre production scheduled for July.