Back to top

Jamaica Children’s Gospel Sweet 16 Finals to Rock Ranny Williams Ent Centre

Kingston, Jamaica:  This Sunday, May 26 will see the top 24 finalists of 2019 National Children’s Gospel Song Competition compete at the “Sweet 16” Grand Final at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in Kingston, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Organized by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), the competition’s national final will see the most soulful junior soloists, ensembles and choirs from across the island compete for a chance to take home cash prizes and trophies in addition to the competition’s prestigious titles.

According to Andrew Clunis, JCDC Director of Marketing & Public Relations, “The Jamaica Children’s Gospel Song Competition allows us to celebrate our junior songbirds as we nurture our young talents and specially celebrate them for Child’s Month. Each year the finalists come bigger and better than the year before and based on the awe-inspiring performances at each stage of the competition, we know that these finalists will not disappoint.”

The finalists in the Choir Category, 6 – 10 year old age group are: Ascot Primary out of St. Catherine with Oh the Lord; and out of Kinston and St. Andrew: Alpha Primary with Blood, Mona Preparatory with Jesus will Welcome Me and Torrington Early Childhood Institute with Glory to God.

The finalists in the Choir Category, 11 – 15 year old age group are: Mt. Airy Primary and Infant out of Westmoreland with African Medley; Ascot Past Students and Community Choir out of St. Catherine with Psalm 34; Mona Preparatory out of Kingston and St. Andrew with Worthy of Highest Praise and Port Maria High and Preparatory out of St. Mary with Soon I Will Be Done.

The finalist in the Ensemble Category, 6 – 10 year old age group are: Portmore Missionary Preparatory out of St. Catherine with Maintain; Mandeville Primary and Junior High out of Manchester with Amazing Grace; Alpha Primary out of Kingston and St. Andrew with Have What You Say and Hagley Park Preparatory, also out of Kingston with Oh Happy Day.

The finalists in the Ensemble Category, 11 – 15 year old age group are: Crescent Ensemble of the Crescent Primary School out of St. Catherine with Bigger God; DMTJ Youth Band out of Kingston and St. Andrew with No Greater Lover; Genesis of the Willowdene Group of Schools out St. Catherine with Oceans Medley and Port Maria High and Preparatory out of St. Mary with At Calvary.

The finalists in the Solo Category, 6 – 10 year old age group are: Dejahnae Francis of St. Catherine with I’m Free; Luke Nunes of Mar Jam Preparatory in St. Ann with Hallelujah to the King; Jonathan Dawkins of Manchester with Bless the Lord and Kimaro McDonald of Alpha Primary of Kingston and St. Andrew with Light Dem Up.

The finalists in the Solo Category, 11 – 15 year old age group are: Mikayla Treleven of Praise City international out of Kingston and St. Andrew with Still I Rise; Erica Lumsden of the Port Maria High and Preparatory out of St. Mary with Glory; Kevinna Melbourne of Morant Bay High out of St. Thomas with Never Would have Made It and Ezran Ashbourne of Dupont Primary School out of Kingston and St. Andrew with Ten Thousand Reasons.

The cost of tickets for finals are $400 for Children and $800 presold/$1000 at the gate for adults and can be purchased at the JCDC Head Office, 3- 5 Phoenix Ave, Kingston 10 and at Fontana Pharmacy Barbican and Mandeville locations.

Since its inception in 2003, the National Children’s Gospel Song Competition, which celebrates its “Sweet 16” this year, has been a significant platform for the development of Gospel’s youngest and most promising vocalists.

The 2019 National Children’s Gospel Song Competition is sponsored by the CHASE Fund, the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation, National Water Commission, Excelsior, Happy Ice, Popeyes, Lasco Money, Fontana Pharmacy, Tastee Cheese, J.F. Mills, May Sparkling Juice, Grace Tropical Rhythms, Grace Food Drink  and Colour Your Thoughts Media.