Entertainment

Clarendon College 'ices' competition at JCDC's national music finals

Students of Clarendon College perform Disciplined Child.

VOICES RANG OUT from the stage of the Little Theatre, Tom Redcam Avenue, on Tuesday, the first day of the national music finals in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's (JCDC) festival of the performing arts. Approximately 60 contestants, featuring groups and solos, competed for trophies in the categories Vocal Spiritual, Songs from the Movies and Pop and Modern for Jamaican and other composers.

"The level of performance is good and it means that you have given today of your best," said Dwight Sanderson, music specialist with the JCDC. "When you leave here today, there are no losers." His words were more than merely conciliatory because in order to make it to the finals the contestants had all earned gold medals. As such, Sanderson said that any trophies earned on Tuesday would have been 'icing on the cake'. Of course, some groups got more icing than others.

Key to victory

Clarendon College walked away with the greatest tally of the day, earning four trophies. Each time they were announced as winners, the room swelled with versions of "We got the key, we got the key to the victory" and a myriad of other cheers. The school earned trophies in two categories. They copped the Most Outstanding Intermediate Pop and Modern (Jamaican composers) piece with Disciplined Child and the Most Outstanding Senior Song from the Movies with Down by the Riverside.

Both pieces also earned the overall trophies for their respective categories which also earned the school a tape deck as an additional prize. Sanderson explained that the additional prizes of tape decks and a guitar were incentives which he hoped the winners would use to improve their craft. Herbert Morrison Technical High school earned the guitar by copping the award for Best Overall Vocal Spiritual.

The music finals run through to today.

Winners

Vocal Spiritual

1. Most Outstanding Intermediate

Rudolph Tomlinson, Papine High - Joshua Fit De Battle

2. Most Outstanding Senior

Herbert Morrison Technical High - Great Day

3. Best Overall

Herbert Morrison Technical High - Great Day

Pop and Modern Jamaican Composers

1. Most Outstanding Junior

Joel Wright, Ardenne High - Don't Ask My Neighbours

2. Most Outstanding Intermediate

Clarendon College - Disciplined Child

3. Best Overall

Clarendon College - Disciplined Child

Pop and Modern Other Composers

1. Most Outstanding Junior

Abby Gayle Dallas, Bridgeport High - I Wonder

2. Most Outstanding Intermediate

Charlemont High - I've Got Sunshine

3. Most Outstanding Senior

Andrew Clarke, Edna Manley College - My Way

4. Best Overall

Abby Gayle Dallas, Bridgeport High - I Wonder

Songs from the Movies

1. Most Outstanding Junior

St. Hughs Preparatory - My Favourite Things

2. Most Outstanding Intermediate

Raquel Hinds, Lasting Impressions - My Funny Valentine

3. Most Outstanding Senior

Clarendon College - Down by the Riverside

4. Best Overall

Clarendon College - Down by the Riverside