Waitress ­a star at the Hilton

THERE is a new star at Hilton Barbados Resort. She is Sheena Taylor of the Food and Beverage department, who sang her heart out at the resort’s team member Star Search competition recently to take top prize.
Taylor, a waitress in the Water’s Edge Restaurant, did justice to the reggae song I Am Not Afraid, hitting each note like a professional, despite her initial nervousness and much to the delight of the over 500 team members, family and friends, who showed their appreciation throughout her performance.
It was clear that she also impressed the judging panel of chief judge John King, Ian Webster, Jeff Shepherd, Fredrick Griffith and Wayne “Poonka” Willock.  
Taylor’s performance beat fellow team member sales and marketing’s Teresa Nicholls, a previous Star Search winner, into second place with her performance of Adele’s Someone Like You. Nicholls’ soulful performance thrilled the audience and had them singing along to every word.
Third place went to Marcia Peters, also of the Food and Beverage department, who put her personal touch to Tina Turner’s Simply The Best. Thoroughly enjoying herself onstage, Peters used the entire stage to show her fellow workmates that she had dance moves that would rival Turner’s.
Ronald Cossey of recreation, who performed an energetic interpretation of the gospel number De Blood, took fourth place as well as the prize for the best presentation, while Ron Clarke from the kitchen, took the prize for Best Original Performance with the only original piece for the night, called The One.
Other competitors included George Lowe, Tonia Harding, Zonel Forde, Mona Jordan and Michael Bourne. Supporting performances were provided by 2012 winner Karen Proverbs with The Voice of Hope and the Banquet Chorale led by Proverbs and Shelly Roberts with an inspiring medley called Awesome.
Damian Reid, 2008 winner, performed his original spoken word piece, Children Of The Sun while Keri Sandiford, granddaughter of team member Maria Boyce, performed a spiritual dance piece. MC Mac Fingall did a sterling job and kept the audience well entertained with his jokes. (PR)