Everdene Smart sounded an early warning that she was a force to be reckoned with from her very first performance in the Richard Stoute Teen Talent Contest.
Using her God-given talent to maximum effect, Smart wowed the audience and judges with renditions that were both memorable and outstanding not only at the preliminary stage, but also at the semi-finals.
And last Sunday night, when the finals of the Richard Stoute Teen Talent Contest took place, 21-year-old Smart nailed her performance to add her name to the list of contest winners.
Amassing 822 points, Smart topped the field of 15 finalists after singing gospel songs When I Call On Jesus and Lord, You’re Holy.
With clear, impeccable diction and colouring the lyrics with emotion to express the feelings she wanted to convey, the newcomer left the packed audience at the Plantation Garden Theatre quiet and in awe.
Her victory, therefore, came as no surprise to many.
In second position with 798 points was 11-year-old Jakela Stoute, the youngest of the finalists and clearly a crowd favourite.
The winner of the junior category last year serenaded patrons with her sweet voice as she sang When I Look At You and To Love You More.
Her maturity on stage also impressed Minister of Finance Chris Sincler and Minister of Social Care Steve Blackett, both of whom nodded their heads in agreement that she had a bright future ahead.
Jabarrie Hurdle, who also topped his preliminary, placed third.
A third-time entrant in the annual contest, Hurdle was also a crowd favourite with his thrilling interpretations of Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me and I Who Have Nothing, his personal favourite that he has performed throughout the competition.
Just one point behind Hurdle was Sheldon Miller, who’s also a regular competitor. Miller sang Just As I Am and Don’t Cry Out Loud.
It was not all competition at the finals.
Past winners tuned in to show the audience why they deserved their titles.
Cherish Breedy kicked off that segment with Note To God and Black Butterfly; Christal Austin followed with Through The Fire and Didn’t We Almost Have It All; and last year’s winner Torisha Holder said goodbye to her year’s duties with Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and When A Man Loves A Woman.
