THE YOUNGSTERS in the fourth preliminary of the Richard Stoute Teen Talent competition did themselves proud last Sunday.
They were expected to stamp their own stylings on the selections they presented to the judges, and they did. Based also on names that are going through to the semi-finals and the favourable reaction from the audience at Divi Southwinds, Christ Church, it seems the judges’ decisions were on point.
It was also a battle royal between the two contestants in the preliminary round of the Over-21s contest.
Contestants had to impress the judges with their voices (40 points) along with diction, creativity and stage presence, each bringing 20 points.
At the end of the three-hour show, Rashida Codrington was adjudged winner of the preliminary with 660 points, doing impressive interpretations of Alfie and End Of The Road.
Destiny Ifill was second with 621 points for her renditions of Beautiful and I Look To You.
Third was Amber Blackman (583), who sang Angel Of Mine and Never Love This Way Again.
There was a tie for fourth spot between Anita Charles and Krystal Browne, both getting 581 points and booking places in the semi-finals.
Charles sang I Am Alive and He’ll Do It Again, while Browne performed You Light Up My Life and How Can I Not Love You.
Lone male in the 13-21 category, Zigge Harris, got the judges’ nod for the semis. He deserved his second chance after a good showing with I Swear and Still.
Nicole Clarke showed her vocal prowesss in the Over-21s with If We Hold On Together and We Made It Through The Rain, beating out her main challenger Christopher Padmore who did This Time and I Who Have Nothing.
Supporting artistes were singers Charles “Legend” Odell, who offered recording time for the overall winner of the competition in his studio; Pic-O-De-Crop finalist Miguel White and last year’s Over-21 winner Tanisha Alleyne. (JS)
