Debutants St George’s College won the 13th Jamaica Best School Band (JBSB) competition on April 26 at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in St Andrew.

The North Street school’s 16-member Blu Riddim Band tallied 38.5 points to edge Wolmer’s Boys’ High School’s Kromatix Band with 38 points; Herbert Morrison Technical High School’s Royalty Band (35 points); and Cedar Grove Academy’s Ignition Band (32 points).

Cedar Grove Academy also made their début this season.

Each band performed 10-minute sets under the theme ‘Remix and Fusion’ which required them to “creatively reinterpret popular and/or classic songs by blending genres into fresh, innovative arrangements”.

The ultimate placings were decided by judges Stephen Stewart and Kirk Bennett.

St George’s College received $400,000 from the Vinyl Records Collectors Association, a drum kit from Music Mart Limited, and a recording session at Mixing Lab studio.

Their lead singer, Tyler Salesman, was named Most Outstanding Performer.

Wolmer’s’ Boys were adjudged Most Improved Band and the school with the Best Image.

Hannah Lyon of Herbert Morrison Technical High School was selected Best Band Leader, while Cedar Grove Academy’s The Harder The Battle won Best Original Song.

There was also a performance from the Linstead Primary School Band.

Nine schools entered the 2026 JBSB competition which started on March 2 at Excelsior High School.

Dinthill Technical High School, the 2025 champion, did not defend their title.

Rayven Amani, founder of the JBSB, is pleased with the season.

“The highlights of JBSB 2026 is the tenacity and determination shown by so many of the band members working through their various challenges, but showing up each round and performing better than the previous one,” she told the Jamaica Observer. “We were on track to have more entries than last season’s 12 schools. However, the passage of the Hurricane [Melissa] and its aftermath caused a number of schools, especially from western Jamaica, to withdraw.”

— Howard Campbell