THE 2015 Jamaica Best School Band Competition starts Sunday at Edna Manley College For The Visual and Performing Arts, in St Andrew.

Ten high school bands will compete in the contest’s second season.

Among the schools

are the top three finishers from 2014 — winners Pembroke Hall High School, Cornwall College and Dinthill Technical High School. Newcomers are St Andrew Technical High School, Tarrant High School, Alpha Boys School, Belair High School

and Meadowbrook High School.

The winner receives a trophy, as well as the opportunity for recording sessions at Penthouse and Anchor studios.

Sunday sees the preliminary round and quarter-finals, in which each band performs a 10-minute set. The final is scheduled for March 15.

The competition’s founder/organiser, Rayven Jorja, told the Jamaica Observer that she was inspired by the inaugural season.

“The first season gave us a solid template to build on, as we were able to establish the project as the nursery for musical talent in Jamaica. For season two, we continue to build, creating a balance

between performing and understanding the music industry,” she said.

–Basil Walters