09/09/2024
The Denise Jones Memorial Award for the Performing Arts
The late Denise Jones, with her husband, Allan Jones, co-founded Jones and Jones Productions, the largest black-owned company in Canada, specialising in event management, marketing, and promotion. She passed away on December 3, 2020. A Titchfield High School alum, and daughter of Portland, she was well-known as a fearless champion of Jamaican culture and Reggae music.
The Denise Jones Memorial Award was established in 2023 to continue Denise’s mentorship by providing financial assistance for a Titchfield student who has exhibited the same love and talent for the performing arts that she had. The award is presented with the collaboration of the Jones Family/Jones and Jones Group.
The two beneficiaries of the inaugural award were commended for continuing Jones’ legacy of excellence.
Mikhayla Brown, the 2023 awardee is described as “An exceptionally talented young lady, she has been blazing her own trail in dance, speech, and drama, amassing several medals and awards from the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC). She has just completed her first year at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA). Continuing to set the bar high, Mikhayla was one of a select few first-year students cast in the March 2024 production of the Children’s Theatre Workshop’s ‘Riding Haas’ and ‘Dog & Iguana’, playing the role of Anansi. This is notable because first-year students are seldom cast in productions.”
Kemar Haughton was recognised for his growth and commitment to the performing arts. Kemar has garnered medals from JCDC for speech, drama and playing drums. Like Mikhayla, Kemar has just completed his first year at Edna Manley. He was also one of the first year students selected for this year’s production of the Children’s Theatre Workshop.
We wish Mikhayla and Kemar continued success and look forward to their future accomplishments.
The Titchfield Past Students Association wishes to thank to those who made donations in Denise’s memory. Special thanks to Ms. Teri Johnson and the staff of Titchfield for their invaluable assistance.