Topping five rivals, Dinthill Technical High School in St Catherine retained its Jamaica Best School Band (JBSB) title at the recent 2025 edition staged at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.

Their 16-member band accumulated 48 out of a maximum 50 points to finish ahead of Herbert Morrison Technical High School (44 points), Denbigh High School (42.5 points), St Mary High School (42 points), the Corporate Area Camperdown High School (39.5 points), and St Catherine High School, which tallied 39 points.

For winning the JBSB’s 12th season Dinthill was awarded $300,000 and a bass amplifier from Music Mart.

Representing St James, Herbert Morrison Technical High School — whose Baby Please won Best Original Song — received $200,000 courtesy of CB Facey Foundation.

Denbigh High School out of Clarendon was awarded $100,000 from Community Youth Jamaica.

Stephen Stewart and Ewan Simpson were the judges.

Rayven Armani, founder of the JBSB, is pleased with the 2025 season.

“The camaraderie stood out, the students came out and showed their support. [Newcomers] Prospect College had a lot of wind instruments, while American International School of Kingston had sheet music, which was a first,” she said.

The competition, which attracted 12 teams, was contested over four rounds.

Bands performed songs from different eras of Jamaican music — ska, rocksteady, roots-reggae, and dancehall.

— Howard Campbell