Embracing a profound passion for music and ballet, these remarkable women, with their wealth of global experience, are revolutionising Jersey’s performing arts landscape. Captured here in all their performing glory by advertising and fine art photographer Glen Perotte at Jersey Academy of Music, Chateaux Vermont and styled by Elizabeth Talbot.
When we experience a live performance, whether we are listening to our child in a school play, or watching a professional production, we can be moved and changed. Living on an Island, access to top-class artists can be limited but these professional performers are expanding the art scene here on so many creative levels.
Carolyn, Adria, Christine, Nicki, and Emilia came together as friends over the last year and a half because of a common interest in culture, and quality art and performance. Their dedication lies in championing art that was once exclusive to off-island venues, now making it accessible and affordable for all.
Christine Jasper, a contralto extraordinaire, with a background in musicology, found her way to Jersey during the pandemic.
“I am a relatively new resident on this island, living near the Faldouet dolmen which basically every day reminds me of Jersey‘s special and long history. As a musician I would just like to contribute to my new home the best I can, which is via music, be it on the executive side and by bringing artists together for projects, or as a performer. I founded ‘Moments Musicaux Jersey’ in order to realise programmes and concerts of music that brings together international and local professional musicians. I also just joined the Board of the Opera House and am looking forward to contributing and bringing our Opera House back to life.
My domaine is mainly classical music, and I personally find music is an artform that directly goes to the soul, with no filter. It is amazing to see how much creative energy there is in Jersey (across all genres). My hope is for this to continue, in bringing people (across generations and different backgrounds) on the island together, and simply for everyone to be able to enjoy the best music possible”.
Carolyn Rose Ramsay, originally from Vancouver, Canada, is the artistic director of Ballet d’Jèrri, Jersey’s inaugural professional ballet company.
She danced professionally with Ballet Nacional de Cuba, Miami City Ballet, Les Ballets de Monte Carlo, and the Norwegian National Ballet. Carolyn envisions a world-class dance entity that embodies Jersey’s spirit, offering professionals a platform to thrive without leaving their home.
Nicki Kennedy, a distinguished soloist renowned for her specialisation in Baroque and Classical music, has graced stages worldwide. She is also a respected international voice coach and singing teacher with her own business, Nicki Kennedy Voiceworks.
‘We are a community of like-minded artistic people who enjoy professional level art and are interested in supporting art that you would have to go off-island to see. We meet every few months to discuss our aspirations, the cultural landscape in Jersey, what we would love to see, what we appreciate and how we can make a positive impact.’
‘Training young people, whether that is training young dancers, singers, or musicians, you really do want them to see what it is they are aiming for and to be amazed by it. Everyone needs to support and enjoy what Jersey has to offer, and we hope to add a different dimension to it all. It is important to value art for art’s sake, culture for culture’s sake, and for the stories to reach people, to move them, because when you move someone, there is a shift, a transformation.
‘Integration is key, mixing professionals with young artists to learn, grow and show them what is possible. With the refurbishment of The Jersey Opera House, and with the emergence of Ballet d’Jerri and the Jazz en Jèrri adding to Jersey’s rich cultural tapestry, it is really exciting times.’
Adria Godfrey was born in Columbia and is deeply connected to her Latin roots, blending diverse genres with finesse and spontaneity in her performances.
Adria has spent time in Cuba, had regular slots at The Jazz Cafe in London, and has performed at exclusive venues such as Ronnie Scott’s. Founder of Jazz en Jèrri, her goal is to celebrate the entire spectrum of jazz through live performances and educational endeavours with visiting muscians. “The number of organisations offering live performances is positively growing in Jersey. I would like to see Jersey become, once again, a centre of excellence for live performances and a ‘must visit’ destination for fans of live music. I created Jazz en Jèrri to provide opportunities for resident and visitor musicians in Jersey, to enjoy and appreciate jazz music through live performances and education. I envision a community where everyone can experience the joy of live music as well as connections between musicians and audiences promoting understanding across cultures”.
Emilia Lacy hails from a distinguished lineage within the world of opera and holds extensive training as a seasoned opera singer.
Combining performing and teaching at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, she was also in the chorus at Grange Park Opera, and then went on to work with the Opera’s philanthropists and donor relationships. Emilia is on the board of Ballet d’Jerri and owns Emilia Lacy Designs, a local interior design agency. Emilia hails from a distinguished lineage within the world of opera and studied at Edinburgh University and Trinity College of Music before becoming a professional opera singer. Now retired from singing, she is delighted to be able to sing for pure pleasure in Jersey under the expert guidance of Nicki Kennedy. Her opera career in London consisted of a combination of performing, teaching and administrative work at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. For many years she also worked for Grange Park Opera, first in the chorus, as well as singing small solo roles, and later working with the Opera’s major philanthropists and donor relationships.
Emilia is on the board of directors of Ballet d’Jerri. Emilia is keen for residents of Jersey to have the opportunity to access professional artistic performances of an international standard both affordably and on-island. She hopes that Ballet d’Jerri can bring these opportunities to a wider audience, particularly those for whom contemporary ballet is new, but who may discover that – performed at the highest standard – it has a lot to offer them. From Ballet in the Park, to workshops in school and exceptional performances through the year, there’s something for everyone.
Emilia is also an experienced interior designer, originally working in the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean on homes, yachts and luxury hotels. After a period working with Claire Gaskin Interiors in London, Emilia is the now the interior designer at, and the third-generation female owner of, Ash Interiors, a long-established Jersey interior design studio. Notably, Ash Interiors designed the highly acclaimed interiors at Morel Farm for the National Trust Jersey.
