16 schools vie for Suncity DJ honours
Some 16 high schools from Kingston and St Andrew, St Catherine, Clarendon and St Thomas, are set to compete in the 2019 staging of the Suncity High School Disc Jock Competition.
The competition, which is in its fourth staging, is a platform to aid and support the development of young people and to enhance their talents, as it relates to a career in the music and entertainment industry.
“The competition seeks to enhance personal development and increase self-esteem while creating consciousness and allowing students to embrace the music and entertainment industry as a viable and lucrative career option,” said Suncity 104.9 FM chairman, Steve Billings.
At a media launch on Tuesday at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, representatives from the competing high schools, as well as sponsors, attended.
Some of the confirmed institutions are Edwin Allen High, Cumberland High, St Catherine High, Dinthill Technical High, Kellits High, Jose Marti High, Waterford High, Bustamante High, Tarrant High, Donald Quarrie High, Charlemont High and Eltham High.
Guest speaker at the launch, Renaissance Disco’s Delano “DJ Delano” Thomas recalled, while he attended Excelsior High opportunities to enhance is skills as a DJ were not readily available.
“This is a great platform to develop one’s skills as a disc jockey. When I was attending high school, we did not have options such as this. I laud this competition and I encourage the youths to be disciplined, be the best and compete with integrity and sportsmanship,” said Thomas.
The winners to date in the competition are Odane “DJ Murphy” Murphy (2016, Eltham High), Malik “DJ Malik” Campbell (2017, Jonathan Grant High) and Pete “DJ Igloo” Murphy (2018, Jose Marti High).
The competition kicks off on Tuesday, January 22 and is held twice weekly. Eight schools will advance to the second round, while four schools will move on to the grand finals, along with a wild card pick.
The grand final is set for Saturday, March 23, at the Half-way-tree Skate Land.