With poised hands and an incisive eye for musical truth, Dr. Jason Max Ferdinand returned to the campus where his father once presided to lead a landmark conducting masterclass at the University of the Southern Caribbean (USC). From May 7–9, 2025, the Vernon Andrews Amphitheatre became a creative crucible where music educators, students, and enthusiasts gathered for Gestures and Sound: The Choral Director’s Conveyance—a three-day, high-engagement workshop that dissected the subtle yet powerful relationship between motion and music.

The masterclass was presented in partnership with the Jason Max Ferdinand Singers and marked a signature event in USC’s unfolding centennial celebrations. It was also a personal homecoming: Dr. Ferdinand is the son of Dr. Leslie Ferdinand, a former president of the institution during its Caribbean Union College era. That institutional lineage resonated as participants engaged in sessions that were as intellectually rigorous as they were musically invigorating.

The workshop unfolded over three days in progressive arcs. Day One opened with a curated conversation and live demonstration, setting the tone for the immersive work ahead. Days Two and Three offered a trio of meticulously crafted sessions: technique-focused morning workshops, midday philosophical discussions on leadership and artistry, and afternoon lab-style rehearsals with the HISLUV Choir, featuring real-time critique from Dr. Ferdinand.

The masterclass attracted a wide cross-section of attendees—music students, general undergraduates, alumni, local choral directors, and members of the public—reflecting USC’s legacy as a cultural and educational nexus. Many came seeking not only technical refinement but also a deeper grasp of what it means to lead with both clarity and conviction in the choral space. Participants were challenged to rethink conducting not just as a skill, but as a form of storytelling.

Behind the scenes, the Office of the President played a central role in bringing the event to life. The centennial torch—USC’s symbolic beacon as it looks ahead to its 100th anniversary in 2027—burned brightly in the days leading up to the masterclass, a visual reminder of the university’s mission to bridge tradition with innovation.

As the final session concluded and the amphitheatre buzzed with fulfilled hands and minds, anticipation was already mounting for November 2025, when Dr. Ferdinand and his ensemble are slated to return for an exclusive concert and the second installment of the masterclass series.

The success of Gestures and Sound affirms the University of the Southern Caribbean’s commitment to fostering artistic excellence while celebrating the generations of leadership, learning, and legacy that shape its story. For USC, this was more than a masterclass—it was a moment that echoed forward.