- Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
Vere Technical High performing 'The Call'.
Tanya Batson-Savage, Staff Reporter
AFTER A very, very, very, long day of competition in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's (JCDC) national finals in music, the Glenmuir High School Festival Choir earned the overall first place trophy. The competition ended on Wednesday night, after three days of performances. Wednesday had featured over 90 items at the Ward Theatre, with most coming from class five.
Glenmuir earned a total of nine trophies. Along with the trophy for first place in the overall competition, the school also took home the award for the 'Most Outstanding School' in the central region.
Most of their awards came through the efforts of the choir, which combined great choreography with great arrangements of the songs. The choir earned the trophy for 'Most Outstanding Pop and Modern Choir Performance', in which segment they performed Three Little Birds. The trophy for 'Most Outstanding Pop and Modern Choir Presentation', however, went to Calabar High School.
The Glenmuir Festival Choir also earned the awards for 'Most Outstanding Female Choir/Group' and 'Most Outstanding Traditional Folk Song Performance'. Glenmuir also claimed the 'Most Outstanding Classical/ Semi-Classical Solo' trophy.
TWO TROPHIES
For her efforts with the team, Marjorie Henry received two trophies: 'Most Outstanding Classical/Semi-Classical Teacher' and 'Most Outstanding Traditional Folk Song Teacher'. The group also earned the trophies for two solo performances. On Tuesday, they had received the trophy for 'Most Outstanding Non Classical Solo Presentation', while on Wednesday brought the trophy for 'Most Outstanding Classical/ Semiclassical Solo Performance'.
Papine High School placed second in the overall competition. Most of their trophies had been earned on days one and two. As such, the Kingston school earned a total of seven awards, including the trophy for 'Most Outstanding Eastern School'.
Interestingly, the school which placed third in the overall competition had the highest trophy tally. Vere Technical High School earned 11 trophies. These trophies included awards for 'Most Outstanding Mixed Choir', 'Most Outstanding Vocal Ensemble Presentation', 'Most Outstanding Pop and Modern Ensemble (seniors)' and 'The Edna Vassell Award'.
Not surprisingly, the teachers responsible for training the choir also went home with awards of their own. Andrea Roberts received the awards 'Most Outstanding Pop and Modern Teacher' and 'Most Outstanding Vocal Gospel Teacher (seniors)'. Ryan Powell also received an award for his efforts with Vere. Powell received the award for 'Most Outstanding Creative Folk Teacher'.
THREE CATEGORY AWARDS
Including Roberts' award, Vere earned three category awards for gospel. They earned the seniors trophies for 'Most Outstanding Vocal Gospel Ensemble' and 'Most Outstanding Vocal Gospel Choir'. These three earned them the first place for the special award for gospel.
Munro College was first runner-up for the award, also winning the trophy for 'Most Outstanding Male Choir/Group'. Clarendon College was named the second runner-up to the special gospel award.
Cornwall College took back with them the trophy for 'Most Outstanding School from the West'. Wednesday's performance also brought them the award for 'Most Outstanding Vocal Spiritual Choir'.
The two additional vocal spiritual trophies went to St. Catherine High School. Armed with an absolutely fabulous voice and amazing control, Carline Waugh brought the school three trophies, including the award for 'Most Outstanding Female Soloist'.
She earned the award for 'Most Outstanding Spiritual Solo Presentation' with her presentation of My Soul's Been Anchored in The Lord. Her delivery of How Great Thou Art earned the trophy for 'Most Outstanding Vocal Sacred Music Presentation'. Stephen Levy brought the school its final trophy by earning the award for 'Most Outstanding Vocal Spiritual Teacher'.
HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE THE OTHERS
Kimiela Isaacs was another soloist to stand head and shoulders above the others. Isaacs earned the trophy for 'Most Outstanding Vocal Gospel Solo (seniors)'. Andrew Clarke also distinguished himself earning two trophies for his solos. He earned the trophies for 'Most Outstanding Male Solois' and 'Most Outstanding Pop and Modern Solo (seniors)'.
Titchfield High took home the regional trophy for the north. The school also earned the trophy for 'Most Outstanding Drumming Presentation'. Obed Davis of Exed Community College took away the 'Most Outstanding Drumming Solo' award.
The final trophy, for work on instruments, the 'Most Outstanding Instrumental Presentation' award, went to Amando July of Bridgeport High.
