IT was hardly any surprise when Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts was declared overall winners of the Red Bull Tum Tum Pa national finals on April 20, 2011.

The finals — hosted at the Mico University College, who competed with the other campuses at University of the West Indies, Mona (UWI) and University of Technology (UTech) —saw Edna Manley emerged victorious from a highly competitive field. The aim of the competition? To showcase the students’ creativity and innovation using simple classroom apparatuses such as pens, pencils, staplers and desks to make music.

The Edna Manley College quartet, who go by the name ‘Ground Zero, were true to the very nature of the college’s curriculum of being one of the Caribbean’s premier music education institutions and today. The team will fly to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to compete against other countries in the Red Bull Tum Tum Pa world finals.

And much like Dubtonics Kru did when they won the Global Battle of the bands contest, Edna Manley College is also hoping to further etch Jamaica’s name in the annals of history.

Kemoy Allen, team leader, says going to Rio de Janeiro to represent Jamaica on an international level is a first for the members of team.

“Neither of us has ever competed at this level before and this knowledge has helped to inspire us to want to do extremely well in Rio,” he said.

Asked what he thought the team’s chances will be at the international finals, he says “Jamaica’s chances are as good as any. We hope to bring a unique vibe to the competition and while not wishing to give too much away about our game plan, it is a known fact that Jamaicans are very passionate and we always thrive to be the best at what we do, so all I can say is, Rio, prepare to be ignited by Jamaican creativity courtesy of ‘Ground Zero, Jamaica’s Red Bull Tum Tum Pa champions.”