THE
GRIFFINAWARDS
SATURDAY 09 JUNE 2018
Thank you so much for attending and supporting the 2018 Griffin Awards, which was a tremendous success. To our Patron, Ambassador Audrey Marks and our masterful Mistress of Ceremonies, Ms. Caron Chung - we couldn't have done it without you. To our esteemed honorees, we thank you for being such a brilliant source of illumination for our people . To the fabulous Griffys musicians , Gjilberta, Jovani and Lekë - you were more than amazing. A special thank you to the Rhone Family, who allowed us to honor Trevor Rhone, through the film screening of the timeless classic - Smile Orange. We extend our sincere appreciation to our sponsors, without whom our existence would not be possible. We encourage you to support these businesses in appreciation of their commitment to our mission and our effort to ignite innovation across Jamaica. Thank you!
THE GRIFFIN AWARDS PATRON
Her Excellency Audrey Marks is Jamaica's thirteenth Ambassador to the United States of America and the Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the Organization of American States (OAS).
Ambassador Marks assumed duties at the Embassy in Washington, D.C. on September 12, 2016. She previously served in the same capacity for two (2) years from 2010 - 2012, thereby creating history by being the first Jamaican female Ambassador to the USA, and also the first Ambassador to be assigned to the same Post twice.
HER EXCELLENCY AMBASSADOR AUDREY P. MARKS
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
MS CARON CHUNG
Executive Director AFJ
Caron Chung was born in Jamaica and spent her early childhood there before moving to Northern California with her family and eventually going on to college to study marketing at New York University in bustling Manhattan. However, her heart has remained with the land of her birth and she has returned to it many times to visit, live and work. Since 2010, she has been able to fulfill a personal mission to help improve the lives of Jamaicans and raise the country’s economic profile through the dedicated non-profit American Friends of Jamaica, Inc. (AFJ).
THE HONOREES
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD
THE FILM SCREENING
THE VIRTUOSOS
LEKË SALIHU
In the community of musicians, Lekë is known as a brilliant accompanist on the Piano for Singers, Flutists and Clarinet players.
As a soloist, Lekë has made many appearances with orchestras, chamber ensembles, throughout Europe and on Radio Broadcasts in Eastern Europe. He’s performed at the International University City in Paris, Chopin Piano Festival in Prishtina and Church of Saint Paul the Apostle in Manhattan, New York.
GJILBERTA LUCAJ
Gjilberta Lucaj is a New York City-based concert cellist with a critically acclaimed international career.
A native of Albania, her solo career started at age 13, performing in Vatican City for Pope John Paul II. Her career has taken her to Mexico, China, South Korea, throughout Europe, the Caribbean and even to war-torn Afghanistan.
JOVANI WILLIAMS
Late by conventional musical standards, Jovani Williams started playing the violin, somewhat fortuitously at age 13. Six months thereafter, he captured 3 trophies at Jamaica’s premier performing arts festival and 4 trophies the following year.
Since then Jovani has racked up well-deserved acclaim for his stage performances and academics.