Newcomers Cedar Grove Academy, St George’s College, Wolmer’s Boys’ High School, and Herbert Morrison Technical High School are the finalists for Jamaica’s Best School Band (JBSB) competition which ends on April 26 at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.

They earned their places on April 12 following the quarter- and semi-final rounds at that St Andrew school.

Under the theme, ‘Foundation Rules’, each band did 10-minute performances based on songs from the ska and rocksteady eras of the 1960s, as well as renditions of reggae and dancehall songs from the 1980s to the early 2000s.

Based in Portmore, St Catherine, Cedar Grove Academy topped the quarter-finals with 48 points, followed by Wolmer’s (43.5 points), Herbert Morrison Technical High School (42 points), Camperdown High School (42 points), Denbigh High School (37.5 points), St George’s College (37.5 points), Excelsior High School (35 points), and Lennon High School (25 points).

Cedar Grove Academy also topped the semi-finals, tallying 48.5 points to finish ahead of the improved St George’s College with 47.5 points, Wolmer’s (47 points), and Herbert Morrison with 44.5 points.

Judges were Stephen Stewart and Kamar Forrest.

The JBSB’s 13th season started in March at Excelsior High School with nine participants. Excelsior and St George’s College are also debutants.

Dinthill Technical High School, the 2025 champions, did not enter this year.

Winners of the competition will receive $400,000 from the Vinyl Records Collectors Association, a drum kit from Music Mart Limited, and a recording session at Mixing Lab studio.

— Howard Campbell