THE St Catherine-based Innswood High School has emerged winner of the JN Money Cash 4 School Jingle Competition which was introduced as an extension of the company’s back-to-school promotion.

The grand prize of $100,000 was presented at the school on October 28.

Now in its second year, the competition invited high school students across the country to create a 30-second jingle highlighting a school project in need of financial support. The competition ran from September 11 to 25.

The entry from Innswood High focused on the need to renovate its music room.

“I feel good. Innswood can benefit from my talent; that’s what some teachers are here for – to enhance the school and make the students feel good,” said Mario Gidarsingh, the newly appointed music teacher who wrote the jingle.

The jingle was performed by Antwan McNish and Lloyd Rumble, grade 11 students, with support from maths teacher Jhavel Senior and Alafia Noel, head of the Department for Visual and Performing Arts.

Gidarsingh noted that the team had limited time to prepare the jingle, submitting it just before the competition deadline.

According to Gidarsingh, he is looking forward to transforming the existing music room into a fully equipped, soundproof, and air-conditioned music studio.

He also emphasised the importance of arts education and how the new space will nurture the future of promising students.

“Talent is here. We can give them an opportunity to start their music career from now rather than [they] leaving school and going outside to get that exposure. If we have a studio, we will be able to fulfil that [dream] from now,” said Gidarsingh.

Recently the school purchased new instruments, including a drum set, percussions, tambourine, and a keyboard stand, and Gidarsingh is hopeful that they can also acquire an audio interface and a computer for recording to make the music studio fully operational.

Antwan, one of the jingle performers, was ecstatic about the school’s victory.

“I feel good. Mi just like music,” said the 16-year-old who is a singer and songwriter. To boost votes, he and other students posted the jingle to their Instagram pages.

“I want them to get music equipment and have a studio where we can voice more songs,” he added.

Innswood’s Principal Collington Powell is pleased with the outcome of the jingle competition.

“I was really excited about it and whether they won formally or not. It was a winner because it was so catchy; it was so good,” said Powell.

He related that music is part of the school curriculum from grade seven to 11, and though new music equipment was recently purchased, more is still needed.

Cedrica Reid, marketing and sales manager at JN Money, pointed out that the jingle competition was launched as a means of giving back to schools and encouraging students to creatively share what their institutions need.

“We are impressed by the level of enthusiasm and talent displayed by all the entries. Innswood’s submission stood out for both its creativity and the importance of the project they highlighted,” said Reid.

With Innswood High set to renovate its music room, JN Money hopes that the jingle competition will inspire more students to develop creative ways of getting support for their school.

“We are committed to empowering youth and providing opportunities for their development. This initiative aligns with our broader mission to provide meaningful support where it’s needed most, and we are happy to play a role in helping students succeed,” added Reid.

Over the years Inswood has achieved more than 80 per cent passes in grades 1 and 2 music theory examinations set by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.