Song competition has $10k in prizes

| 16/10/2019
Cayman News Service
2018 National Song Competition Winners, Matt Brown, Ben Hudson, Jah Mitch Ebanks and Erica Assai with Minister Seymour, Melanie McField and Jean-eric Smith.

(CNS Local Life): Caymanian musicians who enter the 2019 National Song Competition during Pirates Week could win $5,000 if their song is judged the best this year, with second and third runner-up prizes of $3,000 and $2,000. “This exciting cultural event aims to showcase the best talent in the Cayman Islands,” said Melanie McField, Pirates Week Festival General Manager.

The National Song Competition used to be a highlight of Pirates Week, but had been suspended from the calendar for several years before it was revived in 2018. The Cayman Music and Entertainment Association (CMEA) pushed for the return of the event to build upon local talents and to create a balance between popular North American music genres and regional genres.

“The National Song Competition pushes for contributions of original songs from locals in the genres of reggae, dancehall, calypso, soca, salsa and reggaeton,” said CMEA President Jeàn-eric Smith. “In the early years, it was an integral component to Pirates Week. Everyone who was creative would enter; it was highly competitive district to district. It was what got the people involved.”

The top prize is sponsored the Ministry of Culture, the second place prize sponsored by the Tourism Attraction Board (TAB) and the third by CMEA.

Last year over a dozen entrants competed and Culture Minister Dwayne Seymour said this “was a great indicator of the interest our people have in this historic event. We encourage all local artists and newcomers to enter the competition. I also encourage the public to come out in support of those who will be showcasing their talent.”

The deadline to enter the Pirates Week National Competition is Friday, 18 October.

A registration fee of $50 per entry must be submitted directly to Pirates Week Office (10 Shedden Road, upstairs behind the National Museum) with a completed application form, which can be found online at here

For more information, email events@piratesweekfestival.com or visit the festival website.


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Category: Arts, Culture, Local News, Music

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  1. Anonymous says:

    There is money for a SONG contest?!!