In a spectacular display of musical excellence, two Saint Lucian educational institutions have reaffirmed their dominance in the nation’s premier choral competition. The Canon Laurie Anglican Primary School and Sir Ira Simmons Secondary School both successfully retained their championship titles during Tuesday’s thrilling finale of the 4th Annual Sagicor Schools Choir Competition.
The competition culminated with six finalist institutions—four primary and two secondary schools—battling for top honors in front of an enthusiastic audience. Canon Laurie Anglican Primary achieved an extraordinary third consecutive victory in the primary division through their innovative calypso and reggae medley performance that captivated both judges and spectators.
Meanwhile, Sir Ira Simmons Secondary delivered a profoundly moving tribute performance dedicated to the memory of the late Nicole ‘Niki’ David, securing their continued reign in the secondary school category. Their emotionally charged presentation demonstrated exceptional technical proficiency and artistic sensitivity.
Additional participants in this year’s finals included Augier Combined, Babonneau Primary, and Ave Maria Girls Primary at the elementary level, while Stanley Jon Odlum School of Arts, Media and Design represented the secondary division alongside the champions.
Event organizer Jason ‘Bachelor’ Joseph, a renowned musician and cultural preservation advocate, expressed immense satisfaction with this year’s competition while acknowledging systemic challenges within music education. Joseph highlighted concerning trends in choir participation, noting practical obstacles facing educators: ‘The instrumental programmes at schools survive through individual student dedication, but coordinating larger ensembles has become increasingly difficult as teachers struggle to conduct after-school rehearsals.’
Looking toward the future, Joseph announced significant format changes for the 2027 event, which will revert to a comprehensive music festival structure not implemented in five years. This revitalized approach will incorporate both solo and group performances, potentially addressing participation barriers while providing a more comprehensive assessment of musical development across Saint Lucian schools.
‘This transformation will better represent the island’s diverse musical educational landscape,’ Joseph emphasized, envisioning greater variety in performances and broader school participation in the proposed Sagicor Schools Music Festival scheduled for January 2027.