“What an amazing array of talent!,” uttered a guest watching performances of the Sandals and Beaches Resorts’s Festival of the Arts competition (Negril regional final) held at Sandals South Coast Resort in Whitehouse, Westmoreland, last Thursday night.

The occasion saw employees of Sandals Negril, Beaches Negril, Grand Pineapple, and Sandals South Coast facing off in categories including: Male and Female Vocalist and Model; Dance Duo; Solo Dance;, DJ Spin-Off; Musical Instrumentalist; and Spoken Word and a spot in the National Finals scheduled for Sandals Ochi Beach Resort in St Ann tomorrow.

Nicholas Nelson, Beaches Negril entertainment manager, said he was very pleased with the night’s presentation overall.

“It is obvious that the Negril and South Coast properties have put more effort and time into this year’s presentations,” he said. “The region is expecting a good showing at the National final.”

There was fierce competition among the female vocalists. But Sherion Muir from Sandals South Coast delivered and topped the field with a rousing rendition of Jennifer Holliday’s classic And I Am Telling You.

There were several outstanding performances in the Male Vocalist category, but Sejeon Williams from Sandals South Coast took top honours with a rendition of Sam Cooke’s A Change Is Gonna Come.

Sakae Brooks from Beaches Negril won the Best Spoken Word category, while the DJ Clash segment was dominated by Sandals Negril’s Nicholas Mairs.

Triston Irvin from Sandals South Coast was the Best Male Model, while Aculia Nembhard, also from Sandals South Coast, gracefully glided her way into the Best Female Model spot.

The Musical Instrumentalist category was given to Jemarie Richards from Sandals Negril, who performed uncontested, and Glenroy Walker and Owen Brown from Sandals South Coast emerged Group Dance winners.

Javonne Richards from Beaches Negril took the Solo Dance category.

For Sandals South Coast Entertainment Divisions Manager Garett Bailey, whose team nabbed five of the nine spots, the excitement has just begun.

“I am more ecstatic, however, for the top Female Vocalist and top Male Model,” he said.

“Sherion and Triston epitomise what the Festival of the Arts is all about, while it’s an outlet to showcase what the entertainment division can do, it’s more so an opportunity to find and develop new talents. This year our region went out and searched for that talent and based on some of the performances we’ve seen thus far, I feel like we’ve definitely struck gold.”

The Negril/South Coast winners will face off against winners from the Montego Bay and Ocho Rios Regions in the National competition tomorrow.