Fifteen talented teens are vying for $40,000 in the finals of the July 27 Annual Teen Talent Quest.
Last Saturday, they were selected to compete in the finals at the Creative Arts Centre from a field of 28 competitors.
Organised by South Central Island Production (SCIP), the competition was dedicated to the late calypsonian and reggae artiste Clyde Pierre and Clancy Andrews. Andrews was also a talent contest finalist.
First contestant Roger Johnson singing a soulful version of gospel hit You Raise Me Up, set the bar high, for the others to follow.
The other competitors rose to the challenge, from the first to the last, delighting the audience with a menu of calypso, R&B and gospel, delivered vocally, on the drums, guitar and pan.
Elderly competitor, Anthony Smith, who is among the finalists, broke down the house with his stirring rendition of Billy Paul's Me and Mrs Jones.
Clint Davis, did not make it to the finals, but he delighted the audience with his spot on impersonation of SuperBlue, from the dress to dance steps, climbing on the speaker box as he delivered a version of Fantastic Friday. Another outstanding performance came from Garvin Williams, playing Michael Jackson's Heal the World on pan.
A hush fell on the audience when Khasi Ann Allen, the final contender, took the stage to deliver a soothing, melodious and haunting rendition of Take Me to the King.
SCIP chairman Carey 'Kinte' Stephens said he was very satisfied with the standards the competition has reached. He said auditions were conducted throughout the southland and many new talents were discovered.
Kinte appealed for public support for the budding talents, especially that of the youths.
He said the competition, which represent a mixture of old and young talent, is one of the objectives of having youth and experience interact and learn from each other.
To this end, he said the competition is open to people, 12 and upwards, gifted in the areas of monologues, drama, reggae, calypso, chutney, soca, steel pan, tassa and instrumentals.
Past winners of the competition have represented T&T in national competitions and also at the World Championship of Performing Arts in Hollywood, California.
LIST OF FINALISTS
Matthew Guadeloupe
Jerrelle Hurdle
Anthony Smith
Sherma Bass-Diaz
Bernard Brereton
Whitney Moore
Lerry Guzman
Raquel Dove
Khasi-Ann Allen
Garvin Williams
Khadeem Monsegue
Lystra Nurse
Roger Johnson
Alyson Delysia
Pure Hearts