WE kick-started the New Year by stopping at Ocho Rios High School for the second segment of the TEENage Expressions Tour.

It was, however, a solemn start to this specific tour as acting principal, Ms Bromwell, asked for a moment of silence for the loss of a fellow schoolmate, Tashena Brown, who passed away over the weekend following a tragic car accident.

She then handed over the mike to the host for the day, Kesi Asher.

The first act called was an enthusiastic duo, pianist Nathan Hackett and singer Rohan Ming, who crooned to the lyrics of Lionel Richie’s Hello, setting the stage for the next act, Teve-Ann Wilson, who sang Alicia Key’s If I Ain’t Got You.

Having decided that the crowd was in too much of a mellow mood, DJ Sulffa shattered it the minute he walked on stage. Reciting the words of his original song, I Like The Way You Move, he had the crowd roaring in appreciation.

The same reaction was given to the following act, a duo by the name of DJ Kippo and Malcolm, who also did a lengthy original piece, entitled In These Times.

Next up was an original dramatic poem by Genel Gordon called Jamaica Gone Mad. Although the students did not warmly receive it, the poem had a potent message, as it was a plea for persons to stand up against violence and crime in Jamaica.

As Gordon left the stage, the school choir filed on and the school erupted in cheers. It seemed as if the whole school was transformed into a large choir as the words of Mi Caan Sleep by Romain Virgo were on everyone’s lips.

A bubbly DJ Splinta was on next with his original piece Journey, followed by Makeda Johnson with Alicia Key’s Girl On Fire, which successfully caught the school ‘on fire’ as they sang along, drowning out her voice.

There was then a break in the performances as it was time for the Cool Fruit Drink-Off Competition. This saw a third-former, Gareth Thomas, emerging as champion, turning his empty juice boxes upside down in victory.

He boasted to TEENage that this was no competition for him, as he knew he would win.

Other prizes were given away to Nadica Lewin, Tara Blackwood, Ansel Smith and Roshell Grey in the trivia segment from sponsors, Seprod and Flow. Nakia Palmer was also rewarded for her help with the distribution of TEENage magazines.

The dynamic Mafia Dancers, donning masks, took the stage by storm after the break and pulled ear-splitting screams from the girls with their dance moves.

Unfortunately, DJ Dominic Intense could not live up to the standards set by the dancers, but that did not deter him from performing his original piece, Orlando Stevenson Just Drown, to the best of his ability.

Jioni Brown, though, who came after, successfully brought the noise level back to deafening as he serenaded a teacher, Ms Smith, with the smooth lyrics of Tarrus Riley’s She’s Royal.

And so the barrage of singers began, but each singer produced a distinctive sound, great control of notes and had no display of nerves that could have affected the beautiful deliveries.

Screams burst from the throats of fawning females as the soulful voice of Akeen Fennel rang out to Adele’s Don’t You Remember, Dominique Dunkley sang Ikaya’s Fly Away and the silky voice of Jevaughn Graham serenaded the judges with Chris Brown’s Should’ve Kissed You.

The last performance was a combination of some of these great male singers who called themselves as Melodies.

They ended the day’s performances by dedicating to the young ladies and the female teachers, the lyrics of N’Sync’s God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You.

The final break was then taken to allow the judges to tally the points and decide the winner.

Third place was awarded to Mafia Dance Troupe and second place to Akeen Fennell. Jevaughn Graham, who now has the chance to compete at the TEENage Expression Tours finals in June, copped first place.