- Michael SloleyThe Kingston College drummers won the trophy for most outstanding drumming ensemble in the senior class.
THE Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) held three days of music finals at the national level recently. Day one of the competition featured mainly instrumentals though some vocal categories were also included. At the event 27 awards to students and their teachers were given out.
The day featured very few schools or individuals going home multiple winners. As such, the Herbert Morrison Technical High School stood out as they took home three category trophies as well as a special award for being named the most outstanding school from the western region. Herbert Morrison also took home the trophy for the most outstanding band. Christopher Sterling brought the school their two other category awards, earning both the most outstanding instrumental gospel presentation trophy and the most outstanding all wind instrument solo presentation trophy.
Kingston College also went home with multiple trophies. On day one, Everett Brown's drumming solo won the school their first trophy. They would also go on to win the most outstanding drumming ensemble in the senior class award. However, due to communications trouble, their performance actually took place on the second day of the competition. Kingston College won two additional awards from their day two contributions, via Andre Sheperd. Sheperd's performance of God Is Able earned him the trophy for the most outstanding vocal gospel solo performance in the intermediates class. His performance also earned him the special award of most outstanding male soloist.
The other awards for day one were shared across a wide cross-section of groups and individuals. Kevin Kerr earned the trophy for the most outstanding pianoforte solo in the intermediate category, while Ivana Kenny of Glenmuir High earned the award for the seniors category. Marjorie Henry received the trophy for being the most outstanding pianoforte teacher.
In the vocal gospel segment of the awards, the junior trophy went to Unity Primary while the intermediate trophy went to Aisha Ricketts of Sts. Peter and Paul Preparatory. Ricketts would go on to win an additional trophy for the most outstanding popular and modern music solo, for her performance of Perhaps Love. The trophy for the most outstanding vocal gospel teacher went to Dwight Sanderson of Kingston and St. Andrew. Sts. Peter and Paul also won the trophy for being the most outstanding school in the eastern region.
Two trophies were also given for patriotic songs. Shelly-Ann Foster picked up the award for the most outstanding performance while Arthur Taylor was given the award for most outstanding teacher in that segment.
The band segment had three trophies awarded. Bridgeport High took home the award for the most outstanding pop/gospel band while Cross Keys High School took home the trophy for the most outstanding classroom band. Carl Matthews received was dubbed the most outstanding band leader.
The drumming segment produced six trophies. In the junior category Karyl Wedderburn took home the trophy for the most outstanding drumming solo, while Yallahs High received the most outstanding drumming ensemble trophy. Jourdain Chavannes received the trophy for the most outstanding solo drumming while the two remaining drumming trophies were won by Kingston College. The trophy for the most outstanding drumming teacher went to Lathal Scott of St. Thomas.
The remaining trophies belonged to the vocal classical or semi-classical segment and the folk (traditional and creative) segment. Rhondae Porter of Howard Cooke Primary won the intermediate trophy for the most outstanding vocal classical or semi-classical segment while Kimiela Issacs won in the seniors category. June Thompson-Lawson won the award for the most outstanding teacher of that segment.
Lannaman Preparatory won the trophy for the most outstanding creative folk presentation, earned with Dania Ashley-Abrahams' performance, while Arthur Doyle won the teacher's award for the segment. In the traditional folk segment, Sts. Peter Claver primary won the most outstanding traditional folk trophy while Yvonne Wade took home the teacher's award.
