THE 2018 staging of the Jamaica Gospel Song Competition will kick off with regional auditions beginning on Tuesday. Organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), the competition has been challenging writers and vocalists to become the best new gospel artiste/writer for over 30 years by expressing themselves through an original song.

“This is one of, if not the most successful gospel competition in Jamaica, and it opens doors for a lot of new artistes both locally and internationally every year. A lot of our entrants have gone on to build a solid music career, including Kevin Downswell, Glacia Robinson, Lubert Levy, and Kerron Ennis to name a few,” said Stephen Davidson, JCDC director of marketing and public relations.

The first of the three regional auditions will take place in the central region on Tuesday, January 30, at the St Mark’s Anglican Church Hall in Mandeville, Manchester, and will include contestants from the parishes of St Elizabeth, Manchester and Clarendon. The western and northern regions will have a joint regional audition on Thursday, February 1 at the St John’s Anglican Church Hall in Ocho Rios, St Ann; covering the parishes of Westmoreland, Hanover, St James, Trelawny, St Ann, St Mary, and Portland. The final audition will be for the eastern region, which covers the parishes of St Catherine, Kingston, St Andrew, and St Thomas and will be held the at Eastwood Park New Testament Church of God on Friday, February 2. All auditions begin at 10:00 am with registration at 9:00 am.

Davidson said individuals who audition within their region and are not successful have another opportunity to audition at one of the other locations; however, they must do so with a different song. On-spot entries will also be accepted at all three auditions.

“A lot of other opportunities have opened up for other past Jamaica Gospel Song Competition contestants through the training they have received from the workshops, not just the winners. Also, in addition to the invaluable experience and talent development that the competition offers, competitors have the opportunity to win cash prizes and awards,” said Davidson.

Entry forms for the competition are available at the JCDC Head Office located at 3-5 Phoenix Avenue, Kingston 10, all JCDC parish offices islandwide, and at all three regional auditions. All applicants must be 16 years and older and be a resident of Jamaica.