KINGSTON, Jamaica — The grand finale of the annual Gospel Star Competition produced by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) is set to get underway on Sunday.

Ten finalists are expected to compete for the 2023 title of Gospel Star in a competition that will be aired on CVM Television, Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica, and streamed live on the JCDC’s social media platforms.

The 10 finalists for the competition include Daneille Clarke, Michaela Jacke, Tashaunae Greenland, Shanika McLeggan, Fabian Wright, Donica Dennis-Chambers, Shevelle Clarke, Tamara Hylton, Kemar Eccleston and Oral Lawson.

In a release on Friday, Gospel Star coordinator from the JCDC, Alicia Taylor, said she is impressed with this year’s entrants as the line-up of performers “are quite dynamic.”

“We are quite impressed with the different sounds that we are getting from them as well, and so it should be a good show on Sunday,” she continued, indicating that the contestants were selected from over 100 video entries of songs submitted to the JCDC via email.

Taylor said that the public will be able to vote for each contestant and through the number of votes polled, the Jamaica Gospel Star will be selected.

She added it is important for the public to vote for their favourite contestant.

“Sometimes, we just say that we know that girl will win and that guy we like him and we don’t actually vote. I want to implore people to get up and vote or else your favourite is not going to go anywhere,” she said, adding that each contestant will get a voting number which will be on the JCDC’s social media pages and on the screen during the televised performance on Sunday.

“So, look out for those numbers and you can text vote to the numbers that will be provided,” Taylor explained.

The Gospel Star Competition is a rebrand of the JCDC’s Jamaica Gospel Song Competition.