It was first time lucky for Springer Memorial in the biennial Schools Choir Competition Finals.
In what was only their second competition to date the Springer girls, who have made winning a habit, blew away the three challengers in the secondary school category with an unforgettable performance of Let Everything.
They followed Queen’s College, which gave an excellent account of themselves but victory seemed sure for the Government Hill, St Michael girls even before they finished their show. And a show it was!
Vocal dynamics notwithstanding, the girls, assuming the prayer position with hands clasped and head bowed, along with other coordinated moves, kept the audience glued to them and director Dave Jackman. The applause and screams got so loud at intervals that it was a wonder the judges could hear the choir.
Well before Springer Memorial had sung the last note, members of the audience were on their feet applauding and cheering.
Jackman was an act by himself and, like Hugh Griffith of Ignatius Byer in the primary school category, was a deserving winner of the prize for Best Choir Director.
There was much applause in the Wildey Gymnasium for primary school champs Ignatius Byer and director Griffith, who did a spectacular job with Our Environment.
In addition to the prizes for Best Choir Director, the two winning schools got three other prizes.
Ignatius Byer also took the prizes for Best Composition, Best Original Song and Best Rendition. Queen’s College, which came second in the secondary segment with If I Tell God, got the senior prize for Best Rendition.
Springer also got prizes for Most Improved, Most Dynamic and Best Arrangement. Best Arrangement in the junior category went to Gordon Walters for Part Of You And Me, while Mount Tabor walked away with the prize for Most Improved. Cuthbert Moore’s rendition of Revival Time earned them the prize for Most Dynamic.
Placing second among the primary schools with a gospel medley, Mount Tabor also got the prize for Best Soloist. Deighton Griffith took that prize among the secondary schools.
Their performance of Beautiful Surprise earned Deighton Griffith third spot among the secondary schools. It included a bit of rap from a junior student and, much to the delight of the audience, an appearance by Philip 7.
Hindsbury took third prize in the primary segment with a combination of God And God Alone and You Are God Alone.
