Lay Magistrates host marching band competition

The Lay Magistrates Association of Jamaica (LMAJ), St James Chapter, is gearing up to host its largest marching band competition to date.

About 11 groups are set to converge at the Catherine Hall Multipurpose Complex in Montego Bay on Sunday, July 6, for the Association's annual Marching Band Explosion. Addressing a Think Tank held at the Montego Bay Regional Office of the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), Regional Director of the LMAJ's Western Chapter, Claudette Bryan, said that this year's competition will draw bands from Trelawny, St James, St Catherine and Kingston.

"From Trelawny, we have the Trelawny All Stars; from St James, we have Maroon Town and the Montego Bay Ravers; from Saint Catherine, we have Eagle Star, Mighty Flyers, Island Drummerz and Fire United; and from Kingston, we have Eastern Rangers, Cavaliers, Southern Strikers and Waterhouse Steppers," she informed.

Each band will perform for 15 minutes and will be required to play the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) Olympic anthem, which runs for one minute and 27 seconds. The performance of the anthem is tied to a special $150,000 cash prize sponsored by the JOA, which is also the title sponsor for this year's competition. She noted that prize money is also available for outstanding performances, including $100,000 each for the most disciplined band, best dressed band, and band with the best leader.

Those who do not win prizes will not walk away empty-handed, as each band will receive $150,000 for participation and an additional $100,000 for transportation assistance, totalling $250,000 per band, Bryan indicated. This will help to sustain the bands.

"You have young people in the band as young as four and six years old, and to see them come and play instruments where people will see them and recognise their talent, this will do a lot for them," she added.