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Ferdie and Erphaan: Schools'
Soca Monarch Winners
Dancers at the National School Soca Monarch Finals
TriniSoca.com Reporters
Event Date: January 25, 2008
The annual National Schools Soca Monarch 2008, organised by the Caribbean Prestige Foundation for the Performing Arts (CPF), came to a frenzied, climatic end as twenty-three aspiring Soca singers took to the stage at Queen's Park Savannah in an attempt to dethrone reigning Champion, Marcel Bennett.
Two weeks earlier at the City Hall in Port of Spain, scores of enthusiastic children accompanied by teachers and parents were on hand to cheer on their favorite performers from primary and secondary schools across Trinidad and Tobago. Nine performers in the primary schools category and thirty-two in the secondary schools category all vied for a place in the finals of the 2008 Schools Soca Monarch. Of this, seven finalists were chosen for the primary schools category while twenty-four were chosen in the latter category.
The finalists in the Primary School Category were Ferdinand Smith, Alesha Alleng, Kadesha Vincent, Sasha-Ann Moses, Jerisha Regis, Josanne Bruce and Riaz Neptune.
Riaz Neptune sings "Veranda"
Riaz Neptune of Scarborough RC School got the audience warmed up with his song "Veranda" about a tourist man who was insistent on staying on a lady's veranda. Kadesha Vincent of Petit Valley Primary School showed potential with her song "Ready For Carnival".
Sasha-Ann Moses of Mt. Lambert RC School was in top form as she rendered her song "Carnival in Season Again", a performance that earned her second place. First place however belonged to young Ferdinand Smith of Valencia South Government School who thrilled the audience with his song "Ah Ready". With his confident dance moves and his sassy antics he showed that he really is ready to 'mash up the place'.
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In the secondary School Category the performances were just as exciting. Kerricia Simon of Signal Hill Government School was a big hit with her sweet song "Soca Baby" as she sung to the crowd that she is defender of Soca music. She got a rapturous response from the audience as she showed her versatility with a chanting style. Alesha Alleng of Petit Valley Girls School walked with her own waving posse on stage as she sung "Flag Explosion" in which she encouraged the audience to wave in the name of justice to get rid of guns and crime.
Leon Brewster of Fyzabad A.C. Secondary School was a big hit as he heated up the stage with his high energy performance of his song "We are T&T". Also heating up the place were the three member Bishops Anstey Crew who sent the scores of school children into a frenzy with their performance. Hugh Pickering also scored with the crowd with his song "Hands Up" as the audience needed little encouragement to put their hands up and wave.
Sisters Shalleika, Sheyneene and Stetchelle Hazell were all in their finals with their respective songs "Carnival Time", "Waving Gallery" and "I Can Fly". The sisters all performed credibly, however, it was Shalleika Hazell with her Chutney Soca flavoured song who really shone as she impressed both the audience and the judges, placing second overall.
Marcel Bennet
Defending Champion Marcel Bennet of Q.R.C. came out with all guns blazing as he defended his crown with a blazing performance that had the audience in the palm of his hands, jumping, waving and dancing. However it was Erphaan Alves, the talented St. Georges College singer, who topped the field with his song "Soca Explosion" as he blazed his way to the title with an energetic and dynamic performance that lit up the Queen's Park Savannah. In his song he endeavored to take Soca music higher as he highlighted the importance of Soca, Chutney and Pan as scores of ecstatic students sung and danced in front of the stage as they acquiesced to Alves' call to 'explode'.
The large crowd of mainly schoolchildren thoroughly enjoyed the show as they cheered on their favourite performers. The schools themselves were quite diverse, with many of the performers not only capturing the festive spirit of Carnival, but also managing to convey messages on youth issues, crime, national development, culture and freedom.
National Schools Soca Monarch 2008 Results
Ferdinand 'Ferdie' Smith: Primary School Soca Monarch Winner
Primary School Category:
1st Place / Ferdinand Smith / Valencia South Government School / Ah Ready
2nd Place / Sasha-Ann Moses / Mt. Lambert RC School / Carnival in Season Again
3rd Place / Alesha Alleng / Petit Valley Girls School / Flag Explosion
4th Place / Khadesha Vincent / Petit Valley Girls School / Ready For Carnival
Erphaan Alves: Secondary School Soca Monarch Winner
Secondary School Category:
1st Place / Erphaan Alves / St. George's College / Soca Explosion
2nd Place / Shalleika Hazell / St. Joseph Convent POS / Carnival Time is Chutney Time
3rd Place / Deisha Hendrickson / Tranquility Govt Secondary / Brace Yourself
4th Place / Marcel Bennet / Q.R.C. / Right Now
Primary School Finalists:
Riaz Neptune / Scarborough RC School / Veranda
Josanna Bruce / Febeau Government School / Freedom
Jerisha Regis / St. Roses Girls School / Not Too Young
Sasha-Ann Moses / Mt. Lambert RC School / Carnival in Season Again
Alesha Alleng / Petit Valley Girls School / Flag Explosion
Khadesha Vincent / Petit Valley Girls School / Ready For Carnival
Ferdinand Smith / Valencia South Government School / Ah Ready
Secondary School Finalists:
Akel La Fleur / Chaguanas Senior Comprehensive / Cock Back and Roll It
Joseph Lewis / Arima Government Secondary School / Crimestopper
Joy Martineau / Speyside High School / Try Your Best
Shauntelle Simon / Signall Hill Government School / Soca Baby
Monique De Leon / St. Francois Government School / Is Carnival Again
Sache Alexander / Bishops Anstey High School / Carnival Time
Afeisha Charles / Success Laventille Composite School / Gimme Rhythm
Shalleika Hazell / St. Joseph Convent POS / Carnival Time is Chutney Time
Nesta Boxhill / Fatima College / High
Erphaan Alves / St. George's College / Soca Explosion
Keron Vargas / Beetham Servol / Soca Music
Sheyneene Hazell / St. Joseph Convent POS / Waving Gallery
Deisha Hendrickson / Tranquility Government Secondary School / Brace Yourself
Sobanna Kirton / Diego Martin Secondary School / Carnival Time
Bishop's Crew / Bishops Anstey High School / Soca Music
Hugh Pickering / Diego Martin Secondary School / Hands Up
Mikel Gabriel / Success Laventille Composite School / Fusion
Shradah McIntyre / Arima Government Secondary School / Keep Your Eyes on the Prize
Marlon Durcan / Woodbrook Government Secondary School / We Time
Stephen Sterling / Diego Martin Secondary School / Groove Meh
Keda Tempro / Tunapuna Government Secondary School / Freedom
Stechelle Hazell / International School POS / I Can Fly
Leon Brewster / Fyzabad A.C. Secondary School / We are TnT
Kerwin Alexander / Fyzabad A.C. Secondary School / If Yuh Righteous
Marcel Bennet / Q.R.C. / Right Now
National Schools Soca Monarch Finals 2008 in pictures:
www.trinisoca.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=88729
National Schools Soca Monarch Semi-Finals 2008 in pictures:
www.trinisoca.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=84269
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