16 schools to compete in DJ contest

Sixteen high schools from Kingston and St Andrew, St Catherine, Clarendon and St Thomas are set to compete in the 2019 staging of the SunCity High School Disc Jock Competition.

The competition, which is in its fourth staging, is a platform to aid and support the development of young people, and to enhance their talents as it relates to careers in the music and entertainment industry.

"The competition seeks to enhance personal development and increase self-esteem, while creating 'consciousness' and allowing students to embrace the music and entertainment industry as a viable and lucrative career option," said SunCity 104.9 FM Chairman Steve Billings.

At a media launch last Tuesday at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, representatives from some of the competing high schools, as well as sponsors, attended.

Some of the confirmed institutions are Edwin Allen High, Cumberland High, St Catherine High, Dinthill Technical High, Kellits High, Jose Marti High, Waterford High, Bustamante High, Tarrant High, Donald Quarrie High, Charlemont High and Eltham High.

Baking Enterprises, through its Yummy brand; Digicel; Dairy Industries, via its This is Really Great Yogurt product; Kirk Distributors (with its brands Cetamol Menstrual, Confidence, and Clean & Clear); and Distinction College are some of the sponsors who have committed to the competition.

Guest speaker at the launch, Renaissance Disco's Delano 'DJ Delano' Thomas recalled that while he attended Excelsior High School, opportunities to enhance his skills as a DJ were not readily available.

"This is a great platform to develop one's skills as a disc jockey. When I was attending high school, we did not have options such as this. I laud this competition, and I encourage the youths to be disciplined, be the best, and compete with integrity and sportsmanship," he said.

Previous winners of the competition include Odane 'SJ Murphy' Murphy (2016, who attended Eltham High), Malik 'DJ Malik'Campbell (2017, who attended Jonathan Grant High) and Pete 'DJ Igloo' Murphy (2018, who attended Jose Marti High).

The competition kicks off today and is held twice weekly, including Fridays. Eight schools will advance to the second round, while four schools will move on to the grand finals along with a wild-card pick.

The grand final is set for Saturday, March 23, at the Portmore Pines Plaza.