Andre Braithwaite Awarded Mbe
Andre Braithwaite has been named a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in His Majesty the King’s New Year 2026 Overseas and International Honours list for services to young people and the music industry in the Virgin Islands, the Government of the Virgin Islands announced. A new, detailed government biography released with the award fills in Braithwaite’s musical roots, education at Jacksonville University, long teaching career at Elmore Stoutt High School and H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, community involvement in sport and youth work, and past awards including Lions Club Citizen of the Year and the Rotary Paul Harris award.
Andre Braithwaite has been awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in His Majesty the King’s New Year 2026 Overseas and International Honours list, the Government of the Virgin Islands announced in a press release carried by local outlets including BVI News and Guavaberry.
The MBE recognises Braithwaite’s ‘‘services to Young People and the Music Industry in the Virgin Islands,’’ honouring his lifelong dedication to music education, cultural preservation and the development of young musicians across the Territory (Government of the Virgin Islands press release).
New details in the government’s biography expand on earlier local reporting. According to the release, Braithwaite’s musical journey began at age three with piano melodies sung by his father and early lessons from Ms. He played recorder at Althea Scatliffe Primary School and entered BVI High School (now Elmore Stoutt High School) in 1988, where he learned the trumpet and joined the Junior, Senior, Jazz, Fungi and Phoenix bands (Government press release).
Braithwaite graduated from Elmore Stoutt High School in 1994 with distinction in Music and Technical Drawing and began teaching there the same year. He later attended Jacksonville University (1996–2001 and 2004–2006), earning a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education, studying composition, voice, trumpet, piano and drums, and performing with numerous ensembles including the Jacksonville University Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble (Government press release; VINO).
Despite offers of well-paid work in the United States after his studies, Braithwaite returned home to invest in the community that shaped him, according to Virgin Islands News Online (VINO). He has served as Music Director at Elmore Stoutt High School — directing Senior, Jazz and Fungi bands — and as conductor of the HLSCC Jazz Ensemble.
He also directs church choirs including the Acappella Fellas, Praise Team and Youth Choir at Road Town Methodist Church (Government press release). Braithwaite founded the Universal Language Studio, a recording studio and teaching lab aimed at broadening music instruction for students of all ages, and has performed across the Caribbean, the United States and Europe.
He has led music at civic events such as Remembrance Day and the King’s Birthday parade and has accompanied government choirs at official functions (Government press release; local coverage). Beyond music, Braithwaite has been active in sport and youth programmes. He has played on the BVI national volleyball team since age 13, coached youth track and field, and was recently appointed to the executive of the BVI Amateur Volleyball League (Government press release).
Community recognitions include the Lions Club of Tortola’s Citizen of the Year (2013), the Rotary Club’s Paul Harris Award (2022), and an ‘‘Unsung Hero’’ acknowledgement from New Life Baptist Church in 2023. Governor Daniel Pruce congratulated Braithwaite, calling the honour ‘‘well-deserved’’ and noting his tireless work teaching and inspiring young people (Government Information Service/Government press release).
Braithwaite lives in Tortola with his wife, Kishann, and their three daughters and said he hopes the MBE will inspire Virgin Islands youth to pursue excellence in the arts (local reports; Government press release).
Primary source: BVI Government