The Digicel Rising Stars programme is a great opportunity for all singers in Anguilla to become known throughout the Caribbean. This is the first time that the programme has been brought to Anguilla and all singers are invited to the Teachers’ Resource Centre on Sunday September 3 at 9.00 a.m. to compete in the first round. Soloists or singing groups up to five in number are being encouraged to come and sing without any back up music except what they provide themselves. All types of music are being encouraged, including reggae, hip hop, calypso, country and western, blues, gospel and more.

AJA (Adisa Andwele) at the podium with Stephenie Brooks and Anthony Pickering seated

Project Manager of Digicel Rising Stars AJA (Adisa Andwele) is encouraging all singers to make sure they are well rehearsed, dressed in suitable clothing and come looking and feeling like a star. There will be three local judges, Daphne Jacobs-Richardson, Lennox Vanterpool and Carlton Pickering, who will choose four persons to represent Anguilla in the next round. The winners will be filmed with back up music and then join 8 persons from St Kitts and Nevis to compete in the next round in a concert on television on September 24 that will be aired on KCN. Three winners from this group will be chosen by persons in the community calling or texting on their cell phones. These will proceed to the next round along with two persons from the other competing territories.

This is the second year the programme has taken place in the Eastern Caribbean, although it started in 2002 in Jamaica. Other countries participating are Barbados, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent, Antigua, and Dominica. AJA says it is a Caribbean show for Caribbean people and he really wants Anguillians to take advantage of the opportunity.

The final winner will be decided on November 12, with persons across the Caribbean voting, and the results announced on November 19. The winner will receive US$10.000.00 and a management/publishing contract as well as a top of the line phone and Digicel air time. Second prize is US$5,000.00 and third is US$3,000.00.

The programme was launched at Paradise Cove Resort on Thursday August 24. The opening was chaired by Anthony Pickering, dealer agent for credit and collection/finance for Digicel. Market Manager Stephenie Brooks says she is very excited about the programme and hopes Anguillians will take advantage of the opportunity and that an Anguillian will be one of Digicel’s next Rising Stars. She is encouraging all singers to be at the Teachers’ Resource Centre between 9.00 a.m. and 12 noon on Sunday September 3.

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