Semifinalists chosen for Teen Talent Competition

ifteen talented teenagers have made it into the semifinal of the annual Richard Stoute Teen Talent Competition, following last Sunday’s second and final preliminary at the Daphne Joseph-Hackett Theatre.

 

All seven contestants of the first preliminary made the cut, and added to that list were eight from Sunday. Those advancing are Chelisa Depeiza, Chelsea Ellis, Damario Foster, Jaliah Thompson, Jasmine Walkes, Joshua Osborne, Kadarius Allen, Kayla Alleyne, Kenaz Walker, Kymani Devonish, Kyrique Alleyne, Roneisha Alleyne, Sabrina Phagoo, Tyrell Ifill and Zz Cumberbatch. Kyrique Alleyne, who is no stranger to the stage, performed Say A Little Pray For Me by the legendary Aretha Franklin and returned with a pleasing rendition of Best Part by Daniel Caesar. He seemed destined to advance even before the night was over.

 

Jaliah Thompson started her night with the powerful This Is My Life, a notable Shirley Bassey standard, and did a worthy job. She gave a good account of herself the second time around with her interpretation of Luther Vandross’ Impossible Dream. Look out for this powerhouse in the future.

 

Jasmine Walkes’ time on stage was well spent and she impressed the audience with her take on Hallelujah by Alexandra Burke and sealed her semifinal berth with Beyoncé’s Halo.

 

Kadarius Allen has a presence about him despite his youthfulness. He exuded confidence and displayed tremendous promise as he charmed those present with his renditions of Whitney Houston’s The Greatest Love Of All and Opportunity by Sia. His inclusion among the semifinalists was no surprise.

 

He might have been the youngest and smallest on stage but the diminutive Damario Foster is big in talent. The fans warmed to his interpretation of American singer/songwriter Billie Eilish’s Lovely and he completely won them over with a sterling delivery of Michael Jackson’s Ben.

 

Kayla Alleyne booked her semifinal spot with Sober by Demi Lovato and another of Eilish’s popular songs, No Time To Die.

 

Chelsea Ellis had a great night. She first rendered Alicia Keys’ If I Ain’t Got You and returned with Lord You’re Holy by Helen Baylor. The response from the audience to the latter selection was overwhelming. Initially, there was complete silence as she went through her routine. On her last note, patrons broke out into rapturous applause.

 

Kenaz Walker was another who impressed the judges with a great rendition of Sam Cooke’s civil rights anthem, A Change Is Gonna Come. He was again in a melodic tone with his offering of I Hear A Love Song, a Mark Lord standard that still resonates today.

 

Relissa Miycham might not have made it to the semifinal stage but her renditions of Titanium by Sia in the first half and then You Say by Lauren Daigle showed that the promise is there. That potential was also evident in Jakyah Graham who sang Jah Cure’s Call On Me and All Of Me by John Legend.

 

Also performing on the night were Evaney-Starr Goddard with Oceans and Goodness Of God; Rohisia Sampson who sang Set Fire To The Rain and To Good At Goodbyes; Ciara Layne with The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Russian Roulette; and Kamara Rowe with Ex-Factor and Rise Up.

 

Adding to the entertainment for the night was Pic-O-De-Crop finalist Shontae Alleyne-Clarke, and Over-21 contestants Joshua Moore and Shaneka George.

 

The semifinal of the teen talent competition will be held on October 20 at the Daphne Joseph-Hackett Theatre, while the Over-21 competition will have the first preliminary this Sunday, October 6 at the same venue.

(CW)