LITTLE BAY – Keon “Dragon K” Christopher is the new Jr. Calypso Competition monarch.
The Brades School student won over the judges with two spectacular performances which brought the crowd to their feet after the second number. Dragon K sang in eighth place “Future Paradise”, which won him $200 for the Best My Ideal Montserrat song and “Runaway Ghaut”.
Ten young singers competed in the 16th edition of the show which is organised by the Montserrat Union of Teachers each year. The MC for the evening was Jermaine Wade. In attendance was Hon. Minister of Agriculture Claude Hogan and the High Commissioner of India to the Caribbean His Excellency Gauri Shankar Gupta. The commissioner presented a cash donation to the Mrs Ingrid Osborne, president of the MUT as a contribution to the organisation. He commended the singers and musicians and said Montserrat was building stars and a musical legacy.
There was a surprising fourth place finish for Veron “Calypso Vedz” Duberry, a student from the Montserrat Secondary School (MSS), who also won the Most Creative Performance for his first round entry “Dream Angel”. He sand “Teenager Blues” in the open category. Both songs were written by Herman “Cupid” Francis.
Last year’s winner Thasia “Sugar T’ Stephenson was first runner-up after doing justice to two songs written by Keithroy “DeBear” Morton, who won Best Writer in the competition. Sugar T won the Best Upbeat Song $200 cash prize for Irish For a Day. Her first round song was “Easy Access”.
Taking a third place finish was Stevel “Mighty Soca” Rodney who sang “Just some Changes” and “Workers Stand up”.
Other performers were Keana “Lady K” Wade from Brades School who sang “My List” and “Please Take some Time for Me, both written by Herman “Cupid” Francis; Jevon “V-Tech” Fenton of MSS sang “Crystal Ball” and “Sing us a Song”; Nine-year-old Yashiva “Princess Shiva” Faulkner from Brades School sang in the show for the first time with “Montserrat Nice” and “All a we a one”.
Also making his debut was Orin “ODJ” Favourite of Lookout School who sang “My Ideal Montserrat” and “Strike up the Band” written by his uncle calypsonian Alvin “Black Jaguar” Sweeney.
Janel Acosta, a fifth form student at MSS entered the junior show for the first time with “Thank you Montserrat” and “Watch out for Ebola.” Previously he sang in the senior show twice.
Jalen “Mighty Chico” Ryan, a seven-year-old from the St. Augustine School will take home an extra $200 for being the youngest performer in the show. He sang “Start Producing” and “Back Again” as this was his second year competing.
The Full List of Winners are:
Winner – Keon “Dragon K” Christopher
1st Runner-up – Thasia “Sugar T” Stephenson
2nd Runner-up – Stevel “Mighty Soca” Rodney
3rd Runner-up – Veron “Calypso Vedz” Duberry
Best Ideal Montserrat Song – Future Paradise by Dragon K (Written by Keithroy “DeBear” Morson)
Best Newcomer – Orin “ODJ” Favourite
Best Upbeat Song – Irish 4 A Day – Sugar T (Written by Keithroy “DeBear” Morson)
Most Creative – Calypso Vedz
Best Writer – Keithroy “DeBear” Morson
