Junior Calypso, Soca and Schools Panorama Competitions Heat Up Lucian Carnival Week
The Carnival Planning and Management Committee (CPMC) says excitement is building around this year’s junior carnival activities, with strong participation from schools across Saint Lucia as the island’s youth take centre stage in Lucian Carnival celebrations. Speaking during an interview on Radio Caribbean International (RCI) ahead of the National Primary Schools Calypso and Soca Competition […] The post Junior Calypso, Soca and Schools Panorama Competitions Heat Up Lucian Carnival Week appeared first on Saint Lucia Daily Post.
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The Carnival Planning and Management Committee (CPMC) says excitement is building around this year’s junior carnival activities, with strong participation from schools across Saint Lucia as the island’s youth take centre stage in Lucian Carnival celebrations.
Speaking during an interview on Radio Caribbean International (RCI) ahead of the National Primary Schools Calypso and Soca Competition at the Mindoo Phillip Park, CPMC’s Communications Officer, Jade Brown said this year’s response from schools has been particularly encouraging.
According to Brown, 21 schools are scheduled to participate in the primary school competition, with 11 competing in the calypso segment and 10 in the soca category.
“The children are excited. They’re having a good time and we have not even started yet,” Brown said while encouraging the public to attend the event.
Brown noted that the level of engagement from schools has increased significantly compared to previous years, particularly in terms of support from students, teachers and parents.
“What we’re seeing across the board with junior festival activities is schools really engaging with the activities of Lucian Carnival,” she explained.
She said the CPMC continues to place strong emphasis on youth involvement as part of efforts to sustain and grow the festival product.
“If we want to sustain the product, we must start with the children. We must start with the young ones and where do we go? We go to the schools,” Brown stated.
She also praised teachers, principals and parents for helping to build enthusiasm around the junior carnival competitions.
The activities continue on Friday with the Secondary Schools Calypso and Soca Competition at the Mindoo Phillip Park, where Brown says patrons can expect a highly competitive showcase featuring several students already gaining popularity on social media.
“This one is going to be big,” she said. “We have some heavy hitters. We have people who are trending in our social sphere and we’re going to see them on the stage.”
Brown also highlighted the contribution of veteran calypso mentor Jason ‘Bachelor’ Joseph for his continued support and development of young performers.
A major addition to this year’s junior carnival calendar is the inaugural Schools Panorama Competition scheduled for Saturday at 2 pm at the Mindoo Phillip Park.
She revealed that seven bands are expected to participate in the steelpan competition, which introduces a competitive element to the schools’ panorama showcase for the first time.
“Normally we would have a fun festival type product, but this year we saw the need to bring it to another level and add that competitive aspect to it as well,” she explained.
The weekend will also feature calypso preliminaries as Lucian Carnival activities continue to intensify across the island.
“Carnival is heating up,” Brown stated. “This is the biggest cultural festival in Saint Lucia and so many people are positively impacted by it.”
The CPMC is encouraging the public to support the various junior and national carnival initiatives throughout the season.
The post Junior Calypso, Soca and Schools Panorama Competitions Heat Up Lucian Carnival Week appeared first on Saint Lucia Daily Post.
