By Adrian Frater, Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
A CHANCE of a lifetime will be in the offering for two lucky local singers in the upcoming 'Divas Search Competition', slated for Kingston and Montego Bay. The two top performers will be selected to perform on the 'Divas in Concert' showcase, slated for Saturday, December 1, at the Rosehall Great House and Sunday, December 2, in Kingston. "We are looking for a few good divas to open at 'Divas in Concert' shows in Kingston and Montego Bay", said Carl Sharpe, the executive director of Buzz Production, the promoter of the show, which will feature Patti La Belle, Gladys Knight and the I-Three.
"We see this as an opportunity to offer aspiring singers to showcase their gift." In addition to performing alongside the established stars at 'Divas in Concert', the two successful singers from the 'Divas Search Competition' will get the additional bonus of a recording contract. According to Sharpe, Big Ship Recording Company, which is owned by reggae star Freddie Mcgreggor, will be offering the recording contracts.
"This is the first time we are doing anything like this and it is our hope we will be able to push these two singers as far as they can possible go," said Sharpe, whose Buzz Promotion has joined forces with the Gleaner Company for the 'Divas Search Competition'. "At the end of the day, we hope this venture will help to enhance the career of the two persons who we selected."
To qualify to participate in the Divas Search competition, which will see the Montego Bay winner performing on the Montego Bay concert and the Kingston winner performing in Kingston, contestants must submit songs of their choice on cassettes or compact disc with a picture. A panel of judges with representatives from the music fraternity,
The Gleaner and Buzz Production will select the best submissions. The contest, will kick-off at the Coral Cliff Gaming Lounge, in Montego Bay, on Thursday, November 15, with the first in a series of elimination for the Montego Bay concert. The top ten contestants from this elimination will go through to the semi-final phase, slated for November 22. The first elimination for the Kingston concert is set for November 16 with their semi-finals on November 23.
At the respective semi-finals in Kingston and Montego Bay, the judges will decide on the two aspiring divas, which will grace the respective stages in Kingston and Montego Bay. In addition to the honours parading their vocal skills alongside the established stars, the two winners will also be presented with gift packages.
"Whenever we can, we really try to afford persons a chance to expose their talent," said Kirk McNally, the production director at Buzz. "This search will do just that. Identify two talented young ladies and let them begin their journey to stardom by being the opening act for the, 'Divas in Concert."
