Layou Government School wins Calypso and Junior Soca Monarch titles

Kristiana “Singing Kristy” Christopher did the double last Tuesday, when she not only took the Primary Schools Calypso Monarch title, for the third consecutive year, but also the Junior Soca Monarch title, for the first time.{{more}}

“I’m feeling great, really great. I’m just so proud of myself,” the pupil of the Layou Government School said.

For calypso, Singing Kristy took to the stage to sing her song “With Rights”, dressed as a judge in a grey wig and a black and white robe; her message being “with rights, comes responsibility”.

Tia “Singing Tia” Wyllie of the New Prospect Primary School had to settle for second with her song “Proud to be Vincy”.

Also from New Prospect Primary, Cha-Chanie “Lady Cha-Chanie” Morgan placed third with “Education”.

In the soca monarch competition, although the crowd chanted the name of last year’s junior soca monarch, Ottis “Flippa” Cain, it was Christopher who was able to grab the title with her song, “Ah Soca Feeling”.

The 11-year-old was a ball of energy in a bold red and gold costume, as she ran from one end of the stage to another, engaging the crowd in her hyped performance.

Mimicking the style of some soca artistes, Christopher brought someone on stage to show the audience how to “catch the soca feeling”.

Johnroy “The Blinger” Haywood from the Tromaca Secondary School took second place in the soca competition with “Soufriere Rise” while Delanzo “Lanzo” Lavia, who came in second last year, placed third with “School Boy Soca”.

Christopher thanked many persons for her success, including her father, Wallace Christopher, who wrote both of her winning songs.

“I would like to thank my mom, dad and all of my family, especially my supporters,” said Christopher, who hopes to attend the St Joseph’s Convent Kingstown in September.

The St Joseph’s Convent Kingstown has held the Secondary Schools’ Calypso Monarch title for the past four years, and with Christopher a member of the student body, the chances are great, that this trend will continue.

Other participants in the Primary Schools’ Calypso Monarch competition included Tolisha “Little T” Simon of the Brighton Methodist School with “Corporal Punishment”; Rashid “The Emperor” Constance from St Mary’s Roman Catholic School with “Singing Antonio”; Damien “Boney Man” Noel of the Brighton Methodist School with his song “CPEA”; Annielia “Singing Nelia” Thomas from Park Hill Government School who sang “Tribute to Mother” and Antonya “Singing Tonya” Telemaque of the Kingstown Government School, doing “The Blessed Tragedy”.

Participants in the soca segment of the competition included Jahseem “Prince J” James from the Kingstown Government School who sang, “KGS on Fire”, Iran “Soca Rasta” Pompey of Sandy Bay Secondary with “Motion” and Haronese “Krazed Youth” from the Thomas Saunders Secondary, singing “Vincy Soca Party”. Also participating was two time Junior Soca Monarch, Ottis “Flippa” Cain of the St Vincent Grammar School, who sang “Fo Real” and Sarah “Singing Chung Lee” Charles of Greiggs Primary with “The Monkey”.

Appearances were made by artistes who were once junior calypsonians. These included Hance John, Shaunelle Mckenzie, Shernelle “Skarpyon” Williams and Madd Skull.(BK)