Sandra Ledgister (right), sports sponsorship executive at Digicel, presents a trophy to Dwight Ferrari who won the 11-15 year-old category in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's National Children's Gospel Finals at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre on Sunday. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

"A child shall lead is the Bible's prophecy. Clap your hands and follow me," sang Jazhzan McLaughlin, one of the competitors in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's National Children's Gospel Finals on Sunday at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, St Andrew.

And lead the way the children did. They ministered with songs that, at times, contained lyrics that spoke of experiences far beyond their years. Smartly dressed and in colourful and appropriate costumes, they worked the stage like professionals and sang with passion and conviction.

Results

When the results were announced by MC Olecia Wedderburn-Christie, Ferncourt High School was first, followed by Duhaney Park Primary and Duhaney Park Gospel Assembly in the Choir Category. The Best Ensemble (11-15 years) went to the group, Boys of Valor, with Palm Summit Preparatory School and Bright Beginning Educational Centre first and second runners-up, respectively.

Nine-year-old Rebecca Williams was awarded the top spot in the Solos (6-10 years). Jamielle Gilamn, second, and Bradley Sutherland, third, completed the top three in that category.

Excellent performance

Dwight Ferrari, with an excellent performance of Remember Heaven, won the very competitive 11-15 year-old Solos category. Talia Prout sang her way to second place with Alabaster Box, while Kadian Hamilton, a crowd favourite, was third for her rendition of Still I Rise.

While some children celebrated, others were disappointed and only received a participatory medal. But they would have learned a lot from the experience. Alex Anderson, of Bright Beginning Educational Centre, said: "I learned about facing the audience and how not to have stage fright."

Judith Gayle and D J Nicholas provided the professional touch to the programme. Gayle delighted the audience with favourites such as The Anchor Holds. And later, when D J Nicholas joined her onstage with Tings Already Betta, the audience erupted. When they made their exit from the stage, the audience remained on its feet.

Spiritually uplifting

Generally, the show was entertaining and, at times, spiritually uplifting. "It was more than a competition, it was preaching," observed a member of the audience.

However, the length of the show was cause for concern, especially as children, from as far as St James, participated. Andrea Anderson, a parent of one of the participating children, attributed the length of the show to the "time the guest artistes spent on the stage. They should have performed for a shorter time."