Composers and Gospel Singers Invited To Submit Entries to JCDC

KINGSTON — Composers and singers in the gospel industry are invited to submit entries for the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Gospel Song Competitions.

Closing dates for the submission of entries for the Children’s Gospel Song Competition is Friday, November 25, while entries for the Jamaica Gospel Song Competition close on Friday, December 30. Both competitions are part of the Jamaica 50 celebrations, which will run from December 31, 2011 to December 31, 2012.

Subject specialist for Gospel Songs, Leighton Jones, told JIS News that there are new terms of reference and changes have been made on the entry forms for this year's competitions.

He is advising prospective participants to check with the parish offices of the JCDC to familiarise themselves with the new rules. Persons can also contact the agency’s head office, 3-5 Phoenix Avenue, Kingston 10, or call 926-5726-9.

Additionally, Mr. Jones said entry forms for the competitions can be downloaded from the JCDC's website: www.jcdc.gov.jm

He explained that the deadline for entries are earlier this year, so as to allow the winners of the competitions to have “a longer time to serve and to celebrate” after the finals in early July.

"We want the winners of the competition to have a lot of time so that Jamaica can get to know all the songs leading into the final. We want to ensure that we take them right across the island to give them a little more time to do all of that, so when we have the finals we want the winners to be able to have enough time to join in all the celebratory activities right around,” Mr. Jones said.    

He pointed out that a theme for the Jamaica Gospel Song Competition is being developed and should be announced shortly. Last year’s theme was: 'Just Stand'.

Meanwhile, the JCDC will host a series of sensitisation workshops and seminars across the island to update the public on the changes that will be made to some of the various competitions to be staged in 2012. The adjustments will include areas of the performing arts syllabi, competition requirements and structure.

The two-hour workshops will begin on Tuesday, November 15, at the Anglican Church Hall in Port Maria starting at 9:00 a.m. On Wednesday, November 16 a similar workshop will be held at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre, Kingston, starting at 9:00 a.m.

Another workshop will be conducted at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) Conference Room in Mandeville starting at 9.00 a.m., while the last workshop will take place on Tuesday, November 22 at Teamwork Christian Training Centre, Torado Heights, Coral Gardens in St. James starting at 10:00 a.m.

By E. Hartman Reckord