Teens make it to next stage

Jonathan Jeffrey exudes lots of charisma.

Kibibi Greenidge on stage last Sunday. (Pictures by Sharon Harding.)

Mon, September 24, 2012 - 12:00 AM

The judges' decision is final and those who ruled over the sixth preliminary of the 2012 Richard Stoute Teen Talent Competition sent through all but one to the next stage.

However, organizer Stoute completed the sweep by giving the lone contestant without the judges’ approval a second chance in the competition. Therefore, all nine contestants who participated in last Sunday’s preliminary at The Plantation have another shot.

There was no doubt that David Howard, Jonathan Jeffrey and Kibibi Greenidge would have been the top three. Howard was the eventual winner with an overall score of 715 points, Jeffrey placed second with 703 points and Greenidge took third place with 690.

The contestants getting the judges’ nod to advance were Janaeli Harding (589), Erica Best (596), Jamina Smith (597), Shakir Maynard (671) and Tasha Mathurin (672). Shantha Bowin was sent through by Stoute.

The sixth preliminary produced some excellent singing voices in Howard, Jeffrey and Best. Howard’s future seems secure if he can just get the break while Jeffrey exudes tremendous stage presence and charisma. Best is steady and unflappable and her voice promises a great deal as she matures.

Bowin has a lot of promise too although she tends to be very nervous in the early minutes of her performance.

The six-to-12 contestants were Malik Stuart, who got 615 points, and Jada Colucci, with 446 points.

Sunday’s supporting acts were last year’s winner Everdene Smart, Lilian Lorde and dancer Rufus Michael Zephrin.

Patrons also heard from contestants in the Over-21 Contest – Richmond Reid, Tasha Seale and Angelo Beckles. (JS)