Press Release
From the sunlit streets of Nassau to the grand halls of New York City, Bahamian music and culture took center stage as One Voice, under the musical direction of Antonia Wilson-Carmona, completed its 2025 Bahamian Heritage International Celebration Tour in October. The tour, presented by the acclaimed Legato Vocal Ensemble, celebrated the beauty of Bahamian creativity through song, storytelling, and faith bridging communities across borders.
Originating from the shared vision of childhood friends Antonia Wilson-Carmona and Allison Marrette Rolle, One Voice was founded on the belief that music has the power to heal, unite, and inspire. Both women, accomplished in their respective fields Allison in public leadership and Antonia in music ministry have remained steadfast in using their gifts to elevate Bahamian artistry and faith-based expression.
The five-day tour included performances and cultural engagements in New York and Washington D.C., in collaboration with Mount Vernon Seventh-day Adventist Church, where a dynamic panel discussion on Bahamian heritage was held. Esteemed guests included Ambassador Stan Smith, Sports Ambassador Jeffrey Rodgers, Olympian Savatheda Fynes-Coke, Attorney Krysta A. Mason-Smith, Economist Anthony O. Pratt, and Pastor T. Basil Sturrup.
One Voice received high commendation and official support from Her Excellency Dame Cynthia A. Pratt, O.N. GCMG, Governor-General of The Bahamas, and Shawyn Patterson-Howard, Mayor of Mount Vernon, New York, with additional endorsements from The Hon. I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister, and The
Hon. Mario K. Bowleg, Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture.
Audiences were captivated by Wilson-Carmona’s original compositions and masterful arrangements, including a stirring rendition of March On, Bahamaland, which ignited national pride. Musical highlights included her Marlin Award-winning arrangement of “Bahamian Wake Medley,” the bilingual ballad Heal Us Now, and a joyous calypso performance of If Jesus Was Born in Nassau Town. Each piece showcased the Ensemble’s six-part harmonies, seamlessly blending gospel, jazz, classical, and
Bahamian rhythms.
The tour’s performances at North Bronx Seventh-day Adventist Church, Convent Baptist Church in Harlem, and Central Park drew enthusiastic responses, with audiences offering standing ovations in appreciation of the group’s powerful delivery and message of hope. Behind the scenes, the ensemble’s camaraderie and spiritual unity deepened, as members from The Bahamas, the United States, and the wider diaspora bonded through their shared passion for ministry and culture.
Reflecting on the journey, Wilson-Carmona expressed gratitude for the unwavering commitment of her team: “Music is more than sound its ministry, movement, and purpose. Through One Voice, we are telling The Bahamian story to the world in a way that uplifts, heals, and connects people everywhere.”
Looking ahead, One Voice/Legato Vocal Ensemble plans to release a double album in February 2026, featuring both a cappella and orchestrated works with guest artists such as Nestor Torrez and Sisters In Song. The group will also host a CD release gala in South Florida, followed by performances across the United States and the United Kingdom.
Through faith, friendship, and harmony, Antonia Wilson-Carmona and Allison Rolle continue to demonstrate that Bahamian artistry is not only vibrant and timeless but also transformative bridging generations and nations through the universal language of music.
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