Despite battling rain and strong winds at Victoria Park on June 29, the junior masqueraders put on a spectacular show at the Junior Masquerade Competition. With Hurricane Beryl approaching, the young performers’ resilience and creativity were on full display.
Nelson Bloc clinched the prestigious ‘Junior Band of the Year’ title for 2024 with their presentation, ‘De Band Coming – The Ruby Jubilee’. Lynx Mas Band followed closely in second place with ‘All Aboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’. Last year’s champions, Blondie Bird and Friends, took third with ‘Motherland’, while High Voltage, returning after a one-year hiatus, secured fourth place with ‘Westward Ho! Destination West Indies’.
In the ‘Mas on the Move’ Junior Uptown Competition, Blondie Bird emerged as the most outstanding band. SVG Players International claimed second place with ‘A Glimpse of Brooklyn’, Melbourne Artisans’ ‘Going Green’ came third, and Lynx Mas Band placed fourth.
Nelson Bloc dominated the Junior Individuals categories. Makeda Irish won the 5 to 9 age group with ‘Musical Interlude’, and Kaydish Sargeant triumphed in the 10 to 15 age group with ‘Strings’.
The Junior King and Queen competitions also saw Nelson Bloc at the forefront. Taiesha Martin captured the Junior Queen title with ‘When Steel Talks’, while Jaime Stephenson was crowned Junior King with ‘All that Brass’.
In the Junior Queen category, Blondie Bird and Friends secured second place with ‘Afro Beats’, SVG Players took third with ‘Japanese Garden’, and Mirage placed fourth with ‘Clouds and Rainbows’. For the Junior King category, SVG Players finished second with ‘Luna Park’, Imagination Mas Band came third with ‘Sunbeam’, and Verlene Ralph and the Professionals secured fourth place with ‘King Solomon’s Gold’.
Despite the adverse weather conditions, the junior masqueraders delivered an unforgettable performance, showcasing their talent and dedication to the art of masquerade.