Sixty Calypsonians Advance To Semi-Finals Of Young Kings And Calypso Queen Competitions
The draw for positions for the popular Young King Calypso Monarch and Calypso Queen Competitions took place on Monday.
Sixty calypsonians, both male and female, drew for their positions as they advanced to the semi-final rounds of both competitions.
Chairman of the National Action Cultural Committee, Embau Moheni, acknowledged the remarkable turnout seen at auditions.
« This is the first year a semi-final round of the competitions was implemented. Part of it was expectation, we were expecting a large turnout, but it was even larger than what we had anticipated, and as a result we increased the number of semi-finalists from twenty-five to thirty. We were really enthused by the quality of the composition as well. In my opinion, it is the best that we have ever had, both in terms of numbers as well as in terms of quality. »
According to National Women’s Action Committee President Stephenie Charles, this year will also see some significant changes as NWAC strives to preserve its legacy.
« Some of these former queens won at a very young age, during a period when they were still evolving as an artist, however, after listening to our community and reflecting on the impact of our rules, we’ve made an important adjustment, allowing past one-time queen, winners, who have not won any national titles, such as calypso monarch, roadmarch, chutney or soca monarch, to re-enter the competition. I would also like to say the person that wins the queen today can re-enter the competition as much as she likes, until she would’ve won a second time. »
Ms. Charles also encouraged the artistes to put forth their best and to continue to be keepers of the art form.
« We hope the best person wins, and we hope that you all continue in the vein of lifting the art form, lifting the value of your composition and ensure that the art form of calypso continues to play a more potent and powerful role in the enlightenment of the future generation. In placing Trinidad and Tobago on the world map, as a matter of fact, we know that calypso, in the name of rum and coca cola, was the first musical genre to sell a million records. »
The semi-finals of the Calypso Queen Competition will be held on January 11th, while the Young King Calypso Monarch semi-final is scheduled for January 18th at the John Cupid Carnival Village.
