FAMILY members, friends and former musical colleagues met at All Saints Anglican Church in Port of Spain on Wednesday to bid farewell to the late Joslynn Carr-Sealey, singer, music teacher and leading light of the TT Music Festival.
Chantal Esdelle, musician and former pupil of Carr-Sealey at Bishop Anstey High School (St Hilary's), in her tribute recalled being mesmerised by her singing a concert, Classical Jewels.
"Mrs Sealey was the star of Classical Jewels in an era in which the tone and clarity of the steel pan playing classics could be likened to liquid glass. Her voice moved within, around and about it, like an intoxicating vapour. I marvelled at it then and since.
"Spiritually, it was a perfect for this national who always put this country's art - where pan, dance, drumming and calypso were concerned - to meld seamlessly with our steel pan." Esdelle recalled her own musical development in piano and voice at Bishop's under Carr-Sealey who ran the school choir.
"Mrs Sealey demonstrated this commitment, dedication, heart and love to us at school particularly through the diligence and care she put into our choir."
Choir life was about vocal development and personal development, and required personal grit, she related.
"Like all music teachers of that era, she was serious. Once you stayed though, you had the backing of a solid ally, in school, out of school, and after school.
"Bishop's choir under Joslynn-Sealey was a well-oiled machine. We did carol service in school and/or All Saints, every single Hazel Ward special, Memorial Day, Christmas at President's House, school functions, funerals, the festival shield. We won most festival classes most times."
Esdelle recalled Carr-Sealey directing the operas Pirates of Penzance and Orpheus and Eurydice.
"She fought to keep music at the centre of the Hilarian experience, maybe even existence, because she knew it was a source of strength, identity and connection for all of us. Even if you couldn't sing, ha ha."
Carr-Sealey had also kept music at the centre of TT's national experience.
"After her retirement from the teaching service, Mrs Sealey spent near three decades serving as secretary for the TT Music Festival Association, and then as vice chair of the association's north committee." As an association member, Esdelle personally attested to her bullwork towards the festival.
"Mrs Sealey sourced music, chose music, filed music, typed syllabi, did registration, manned the green room, prepared press releases.
"She even left us with a manual on how to operate the festival that we would do well to follow."
Esdelle hailed Carr-Sealey's adjudication of Panorama and Best Village, and in fundraising towards building Queen's Hall.
"Mrs Sealey worked hard. She worked with intention, with joy, and in prayer. She had a fundamental understanding that this world is a spiritual world, more than a physical one."
Music producer Alvin Daniel gave a tribute by video link, in which he recalled a live concert performance.
"When Joslynne graced the stage,
