Not even the rain could stop the mania which unfolded at the JCDC’s Jamaica Gospel Song Competition Semi Finals held last Thursday at the Rehoboth Gospel Assembly in Kingston. Despite the unexpected venue change from the Mandela Park in Half Way Tree, more than 50 gospel stardom hopefuls turned out to vie for a chance to be one of the top ten finalists in this year’s Jamaica Gospel Song competition.

After an energising praise and worship session, led by MC Dwayne Brown, the hopefuls then waited for their chance to wow the judging panel, which included Grub Cooper, Andrea Hinds and Nicole Sharpe. Main sponsors Grace Tropical Rhythms and Claro also helped to set the vibe with give-aways for the supporters who gathered.

At the end of the semi-final performances, for the first time in the history of the competition, the judges then announced the top 10 who will move on to the grand finale.

In the end, the lucky finalists announced were: Ann Marie Laing from St Elizabeth with the song I Can Trust God and Manchester’s Tiffany Hall and Ancient Priest with the entries Lost Without You and My Prayer respectively.

St Catherine struck gold with three entrants, Miriam Levy with Arise, Raylene Lindo with I Just Cant Give Up and Murron Lindo’s God’s Promises Are True. Returning finalist, Omar Douglas from the parish of St Thomas also came through with I Feel like Running Away and Kingston and St Andrew’s entrants God Son, Micah Ministry and Pure with their entries I Need a Word, Anyway Praise and Father Please Hear rounded out the finalists.

The selected finalists will move on to preparing for the 2010 competition which will see them features on a compilation album, music videos and an island-wide promotional tour.