Tessellated hands over live show proceeds to Alpha Institute

The Alpha Institute remains grateful to Corporate Jamaica for the support given throughout its 138 years in existence, and is especially touched by persons who reach out individually to donate time, energy, and money to assist with the various programmes.

Margaret Little Wilson, school administrator, met with Joshua 'Tessellated' Meeks and his grandmother, Marjorie Tulloch-Hobbs, to receive the proceeds accumulated from the Pine and Ginger artiste's benefit event in December.

The live show, Tessellated and Friends, which featured international recording artistes Amindi and Valleyz (Pine and Ginger) as well as local reggae acts Sevana and Runkus, was said to pull over 600 patrons to the Barbican Beach venue.

This is just the beginning for new projects that Tessellated is hoping will impact Alpha Institute and possibly other schools with similar offerings and syllabuses.

"Part of the reason I reached out to Alpha Institute was because of its history, which also includes my great-grandfather, Samuel Tulloch, a past bandmaster at the institution," Tessellated told The Gleaner.

"The work that Alpha Institute has put in over the years and the products of that are remarkable. Many persons still do not know that the school has been instrumental in the introduction of ska and reggae to society, which influence artistes like me to continue to create and have a place in the world," he added.

Tulloch-Hobbs said, "I cannot believe we have come full circle like this." Knowing the role that her father (Tessellated's great-grandfather) played in the growth of the music programme at the school and how far it has come, she says to Tessellated, "you must encourage persons to continue to donate".

When it came time to receive the donation, Wilson became emotional and in disbelief as the $282,000 cheque was handed to her by Tessellated.

Following the donation, the artiste received a tour and had the opportunity to share a few words of inspiration with a few students.