Phenomenal, Classy and Impressive were a few words used by some of the students and community members of the University to describe, the much anticipated competition ‘SO YOU THINK YOU’VE GOT IT’ competition. Organized by the North Carib Club, the competition was held on Sunday, March 30, 2008 in the University’s Auditorium. The aim of the competition was to showcase and promote the local talent that exist on the University Campus.

Ms. Jodie Robinson opened the competition by singing the National Anthem of Trinidad and Tobago. Mr. Junior Lett was the Master of Ceremonies on the night. The panel of judges for the evening comprised of Mr. Ian Webster, Director of HIS LUV Youth Chorale and former regional entertainer, Mr. Cleon Richardson, Music producer at Camari Music Group, Ms. Rosie Ward, Chair of USC Music Department and Musician, Ms.  Trudean Scott, Director of Divine Expression & Vocalist and Ms. Judeth Mc Leod-James, Director of Freshman Advisement & the Honours Programme.

Among the dignitaries who graced the competition, Mr. Vernon Andrews, musician extraordinaire and legend, and Mr. Anthony Hall were among those in the audience observing the competition with keen interest.

The competition was separated into two categories: Instrumentals and Vocals. The elimination process of the show occurred in three rounds. The first round included musical pieces and selections from the period 1960 to 1985.

The second round included strictly gospel and religious selections and pieces and the third and final round included songs and pieces of a contemporary, modern nature.

After each round, the judges commented on the performances and several performers were eliminated.

The instrumentalists who showcased their various talents on piano, steel pan, saxophone, flute and clarinet were Mr. Edbern Stantlebury, Mr. Jeromy Thomas, Mr. David Frank and Ms. Maisha Peters-Gillead. The
vocalists who wooed the audience with their unique personalities brought out in their pitches and song selections were Mr. Andrew Phillip, Ms. Crista Collymore, Ms. Kristie Spencer, Ms. Monique Timothy, and Mr.
Jeromy Thomas, Mr. Chét Thomas, Ms. Jeuelle Archer, Ms. Candice Marcus and Ms. Sheadine Thomas.

It was a night of uncontrollable laughter and soul-warming selections. The listening audience ‘oooo-ed’ and ‘ahhh-ed’ at their favorite renditions. The amount of talent that comprised the show was unbelievable; one could have felt the determination, the pain, the joy, the struggle and the passion in the voices of many of the performers as they performed each song as if they were in the situation that their different songs portrayed.

The musical selections played were equally powerful and original as the selections rendered by the vocalists.

The audiences’ favorite selections included ‘Thriller- by Michael Jackson’ performed by Maisha Peters-Gillead, ‘Lord You’re Holy- by Helen Baylor’ and ‘So sick- by Ne-yo’ performed by David Frank, ‘No oneby Alicia Keys’ performed by Jeuelle Archer, ‘I will survive- by Gloria Gaynor’ performed by Monique Timothy, ‘Killing me softly - by Lauren Hill’ and ‘Hide away by Tessanne Chin’ performed by Candice Marcus and ‘My girl- by the Temptations’ performed by Andrew Phillip.

After a night of excitement and musical exploration, the results were fair and just. Winning a trophy and a cheque in the Vocalists segment, Ms. Candice Marcus won first place while Jeuelle Archer and Kristie Spencer took second and third place respectively. In the instrumental segment, winning a trophy and a cheque, Ms. Maisha Peters-Gillead won first place while Edbern Stantlebury followed in second place.

Mr. Dylan Paul, the lead organizer of the Competition, when asked how he felt about the evening, said that the show was a success and it was of a high caliber. He went on to thank the judges, sponsors and the audience for investing in the event of a lifetime. He also stated that the student body should continue to support the North Carib Club in all their endeavors.

The power of music is immeasurable as it is incomprehensible, therefore, the editors of the Valley Voice and the members of the North Carib Club, encourage all artists on campus to continue to practice on your instruments of interest and your vocals, for with time, you would not ‘…think that you have it’ but ‘You will have it,’ talent-wise.