The final elimination round for the Top 7@7 ‘Who is Next’ was announced last evening, November 13, 2013 for the thirteen remaining contestants for the 2014 competition and is expected to feature US R&B star Melanie Fiona. Image: provided

President of FTM, Mr Craig Lake aka DJ Push Pop said the group has held the event for the past six years and a change in format was required as the record labels being pursued would have been lost otherwise. Photo: VINO

Dr Drexel Glasgow remarked that the change in format was a good move in being able to filter out top quality singers in the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO

Deputy Director of Culture within the Ministry of Education, Mrs Brenda Lettsome-Tye stated that the Ministry will partner with FTM in delivering a seminar that reaches out to young women. Photo: VINO

Members of the FTM group with Dr Drexel Glasgow and Deputy Director of Culture Mrs Brenda Lettsome-Tye at a press conference held yesterday, November 13, 2013. Photo: VINO

Seven persons will remain after the event to be held on Friday, December 6, 2013 at 7:30 PM at the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall. The first elimination round was held on July 20, 2013 at UP’s Cineplex by the Follow the Movement (FTM) group with over twenty entrants.

President of FTM, Mr Craig Lake aka DJ Push Pop said the group has held the event for the past six years and a change in format was required as the record labels being pursued would have been lost otherwise.

The FTM met with several local music professionals including Dr Drexel Glasgow, Mr Andre Brathwaite and Dr Allison Flax-Archer who were instrumental in helping to change the format.

Dr Glasgow remarked that the change in format was a good move in being able to filter out top quality singers in the Virgin Islands. “Using this particular format where we’re having live judging and not just a matter of who’s popular, but once we produce an artiste… we want to say that it’s something good… something that can be competitive within the region and even the world.”

He said some of the criteria included the colour of the music, articulation and sound of the music. He said the stage presence of the contestants will also be judged, “We’re going to look at their stage presence, making sure that once we select somebody, we have somebody who is comfortable on stage, somebody who can really sell the product that they’re bringing.”

The seven remaining contestants after the December show will be involved in a workshop to be held in January, 2014. The FTM group has liaised with Senior Programme Director at BET, Mr Kelly Griffin, who recommended that stage presence and choreography among other things, be taught at the workshop for the March Finals of the ‘Top 7@7’ show.

Priceless Seminar

Mr Lake announced that R&B singer Melanie Fiona will be the one of the guest artistes for the event and stated that the FTM has teamed up with the Ministry of Education and Culture to host a seminar on December 6, 2013 at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) from 1-2:30 P.M. which will feature the artiste.

Deputy Director of Culture within the Ministry of Education, Mrs Brenda Lettsome-Tye stated that the Ministry will partner with FTM in delivering a seminar that reaches out to young women.

“The development of our young people is at the very core of Departments of Education and Youth Affairs and Sports. As such, the Minister for Education and Culture, the Hon. Myron V. Walwyn and the Ministry of Education and Culture are very pleased to partner with Follow the Movement in bringing this inspirational seminar ‘You are Priceless’ to our 5th Form and Tertiary young women.”

“We believe that our young women can realize their full potential and should be given every opportunity to develop into the persons they are meant to be,” she added, “These young women today are the mothers, aunts, leaders, and shapers of the next generation.”

Mrs Lettsome-Tye said the seminar will encourage development in the areas of national pride, self-worth, independence, community involvement and anger management.

“We have a dynamic panel of local presenters who are eager to be a part of this event. We are also very pleased to have Melanie Fiona, singer, actress and women’s empowerment advocate as the keynote speaker to offer words of experience and wisdom to our young women. We hope that these young women make a special effort to attend this truly inspirational seminar.

Lake expressed profound gratitude to Speedy’s for providing transportation for the event for students and other persons travelling from Virgin Gorda for the seminar as well as the ROMASCO group which will be providing ground transportation to the college for students.

He also thanked all the sponsors who were able to contribut to the even in this difficult economic time.