You are all winners. These were the words of advice Minister of Culture John King gave to 2018 Scotiabank Junior Monarch Finalists ahead of the big show later tonight.
Speaking at Lucky Horseshoe Bagatelle Great House, St Thomas, where the youngsters were treated to breakfast, King a former Calypso Monarch told the rising stars, that they were fortunate.
“There are children all over the world who wish they had the opportunity you now have to express themselves in this way . . . . And you do not know with each song and each note whose life you touch.
“It might just appear to be a competition, and if you do not win you may feel down . . . but there is somebody in that audience that your performance . . . could encourage another young person or bring some life to an older person who wish they could have done it when they were young,” King said.
During his pep talk King also warned them against judging themselves by other people’s standards. “Do not measure yourself by other people’s success or perceived success or what other people say. You have to know from a very young age that there is a grading scale.
“You cannot start off as a super-superstar. It doesn’t work like that, parents may feel so and they have a right to feel so. But the truth is to the rest of the world will rate you in differently . . . but it is up to you how you deal with it,” he said.
The last-minute pep talk was also attended by Chief Executive Officer at the National Cultural Foundation Cranston Browne his deputy Wayne Webster and Chairman of the St Kitts-Nevis Carnival Committee Noah Mills, who signalled their interest in working with local talent.
The finalists in the 7-12 category are KCB, Browne Star, Joshua B, Just Kari, Master Kei, Mighty Bit Bit, Star Diamond, Sakarah and the 13-18 finalists include Dynamo, Quon, Miracle, De Overcomer, Princess Make’da, Raanan, and Symar. The competition comes off at the Sir Garfield Sobers Gymnasium from 7 p.m. (TG)
