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National Junior Calypso Monarch
Semi-Finals 2007
Victoria Cooper of Cowen Hamilton Secondary School
TriniSoca.com Reporters
Event Date: February 03, 2007
Posted: February 12, 2007
The race for the title of Junior Calypso Monarch got even tighter as the high standard of youth Calypso at the Tuco/Sunshine Snacks National Junior Calypso Monarch Semi-Finals narrowed the field, naming the eleven finalists that will compete at the National Junior Calypso Monarch Competition. The semi-final competition was held on Saturday 3rd February, 2007 at the Strand Cinema, home of the Kaiso House Calypso Tent.
Linda Pollard Lake, Representative of Sunshine Snacks, the sponsor of Junior Carnival for the last twenty years, pledged the continued support of Sunshine Snacks in the areas of Mas and Calypso events. Thora Best, Chairperson of the Junior Calypso Committee, welcomed the audience to the day's proceedings and Deborah Boucaud-Mason was the MC for the duration of the event.
Competitors were judged in twenty-four categories including Most Humourous, Best Party Song, Best Social Commentary, Best Primary School Competitor and Best Secondary School Competitor among others. The young finalists will meet defending champion Dareim Charles to battle it out for the first prize of $5000.00 in cash, $5000.00 in Units and trips to the Barbados Cropover Celebrations and the Nottinghill Carnival Celebrations in the United Kingdom. Each performer was given a copy of 'The Roots of Calypso: A Short Passage into the World of Calypso' by George D Maharaj to increase their knowledge of the art form and give them a wider appreciation for its roots and origins.
Young Calypsonians commented in song on the irresponsibility of the nations leaders, negative news dominating the media, child abuse, and predominance of fast food, high food prices and social ills facing the nation. Performances by Dinessa Nelson "Back Ah De Bus", Shradah Mc Intyre "Ripples of Pain" and Erpahnn Alves "My Blessed Land" were popular with the audience. Humourous renditions by Trent Haynes "Fast Food Syndrome", Alisha Williams "Digi Foods", Tenisha Weeks "School Bag Dilemma", Necoda Francis "Lose Dem in Jail" and Akeil la Borde "My Problem" made the audience laugh. These artists displayed outstanding performance skills. The Tobago contingent was particularly strong with performers such as Zobah Samuel "The Nation Crying" and Cavel Gordon "AIDS Awareness" excelling in the competition. The youngest performers also acquitted themselves admirably with performances by Marq Pierre "Surface Man", Jerrisha Regis "Don't Want To Go Back There", Garve Sandy "The Answer", and Allan Clelland Goddard "Street Children" showing that the future of the art form is alive and well. The competition also featured outstanding young voices and charismatic stage presences of Shinesse Simmons "Beyond the Mountains, Natessa Alexander "Come Home" and Tenaj Smith "Just Me".
Competitors were judged in the areas of Lyrics, Melody, Rendition, Presentation and originality and the following competitors were selected:
Artist / School
Erphaan Alves / St. George's College
Akiel La Borde / Presentation College
Ezekiel Yorke / St. Mary's College
Alisha Williams / San Jan Senior Comprehensive
Tenisha Weekes / Melville Memorial
Dinessa Nelson / ASJA Girls' College
Zobah Samuel / Signal Hill Secondary
Tenaj Smith / St. Augustine Senior Secondary
Allan Clelland Goddard / St. Xavier's Private School
Jaylana Ryan / Bishop's Anstey
Natessa Alexander / Ste. Madeleine Secondary
Shradah Mc Intyre / Arima Government Secondary
Cavel Gordon / Goodwood High School
These performers will vie for the crown of junior Calypso Monarch and attempt to unseat the present Monarch, Dariem Charles of El Dorado Senior Comprehensive at the Finals of the competition on Monday 12th February 2007.
National Junior Calypso Monarch 2007 Semi-Finals in pictures:
www.trinisoca.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=54787
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