The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) an agency of the Ministry of Youth & Culture is on the hunt for Gospel Stars. The search will kick off with the first audition/elimination round of the Jamaica Gospel Song Competition in Central Jamaica on Tuesday, January 26 at the St. Mark’s Anglican Church Hall in Mandeville, Manchester starting at 10:00 a.m.  Entrants from the parishes of St. Elizabeth, Manchester and Clarendon will compete for a place in the semi-final round.

“The JCDC Jamaica Gospel Song competition continues to provide opportunities to unearth and showcase the talents of new artistes, writers and performers.” Said Director of Marketing & Public Relations at the JCDC, Stephen Davidson. He continued, “This is one of, if not the most successful Gospel competitions in Jamaica, and it opens doors for a lot of new artistes both local and internationally, every year. A lot of our entrants  have gone on to build a solid music career, including Kerron Ennis, Kevin Downswell, Lubert Levy and Glacia Robinson, to name a few.”

Davidson also noted that a lot of other opportunities have opened up for other past Jamaica Gospel Song Competition contestants, not just the winners, through the training they have received from the workshops. Also, in addition to the invaluable experience and talent development that the Competition offers, competitors have the opportunity to win cash prizes and awards.

For years, the Jamaica Gospel Competition has been challenging writers and vocalists to become the best new artist/writer of the year by expressing themselves through an original song. The song may be from any genre of music which will spread the gospel. All applicants must be 16 years and older and be a resident of Jamaica.

Eliminations will continue in the Western Region at the St. John’s Methodist Action Centre, St. James on Wednesday, January 27, the Northern Region at the Emmanuel Baptist Church, Port Maria on Thursday, January 28 and the final stop will be at the Rehoboth Gospel Assembly at 77 Constant Spring Road, Kingston 10 on Friday, January 29.

Persons who are interested in entering the competition should note that those who entered and were not successful in the first elimination have another opportunity to audition at one of the other locations; however they must do so with a different song.
All auditions start at 10:00 a.m. (Registration 9a.m.) and on the spot entries will also be accepted from persons who missed the preliminary deadline. Entry forms for the competition are available at the JCDC Head Office located at 3-5 Phoenix Avenue, Kingston 10, all JCDC parish offices island-wide and online at www.jcdc.gov.jm.