The 10 finalists representing the best of the 2008 season of the Tastee Talent Trail have been spending the last few weeks in rehearsals as they prepare for their moment on the Tastee Grand Finals stage.

This Saturday, the Tastee Judges will review their performances to determine which of the 10 finalists will win the grand prize of cash and a talent contract worth $1,000,000. These 10 finalists are the best of a group of 40 artistes who performed at two semi finals concert events in Kingston and Montego Bay.

Kingston Semi-finalists (left to right) are Shelly Ann Johnson, Nigel Wilson, Chadworth Tucker, The trio called SAV'D and DJ Katty.

Tastee has appointed a distinguished panel of five judges comprising storyteller/dramatist Amina Blackwood-Meeks; media executive Chantal Hylton-Tonnes; entertainment journalist Winford Williams of CVM TV; Natalie Morris of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission; and, for the first time, Dean Fraser, one of Jamaica's premier musicians.

The judges will certainly have a great responsibility to select the ultimate winner, as the Tastee Talent Contest is well known for producing some of Jamaica's most enduring talent who continue to have successful careers locally and internationally. Some of the popular artistes who are products of the Tastee Talent Contest are Nadine Sutherland, King Yellowman, Beenie Man, TOK, Brian and Tony Gold, Mr Vegas, Papa San, DaVille and Paul Blake.

The group of finalists represents talent from all across Jamaica. Most are singers, but there is also an exciting, young dub poet, a female DJ and a dance group from Steer Town in St Ann who are competing in the finals for the 2nd year in a row, and have inspired at least four other groups from their area to enter the talent competition this year.

An integral part of the Tastee Talent Trail is the preparation and development of the young artistes. During the weeks leading up to the Grand Finals concert, they have been working with a number of experienced artistes on performance skills including stage presentation and microphone technique. Musician Dwight Richards, actress Deon Silvera and dancer Kerry Ann Lawrence from the Tivoli Dance Group have been taking them through their paces.
The Tastee Talent Trail Grand Finals is a free concert hosted by Tricia 'Sparks' Spence and will be held in Kingston at Mas Camp on Saturday, starting at 7:00pm.

The 2007 Tastee Talent Trail is presented by Tastee in association with Pepsi Cola Jamaica, and sponsored by CHAT!, CVM TV, Penthouse Records, LIME and National Bakery.

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