On April 26, the 13th edition of the Jamaica Best School Band (JBSB) competition wrapped up in dramatic fashion at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in St Andrew, where first-time competitor St George’s College defied expectations to claim the top prize against seasoned rivals.
Competing as one of two debutant programs in this year’s tournament, the Kingston-based North Street school’s 16-member Blu Riddim Band secured a narrow win with a final score of 38.5 points, edging out four-time competitor Wolmer’s Boys’ High School’s Kromatix Band by just half a point. Herbert Morrison Technical High School’s Royalty Band finished third with 35 points, while the other first-time entry, Cedar Grove Academy’s Ignition Band, rounded out the top four with 32 points.
This year’s competition challenged participating ensembles to deliver 10-minute performance sets aligned with the official theme “Remix and Fusion”. Under the rules, each group was required to creatively reinterpret well-known popular or classic tracks by blending distinct musical genres into unique, forward-thinking arrangements that showcased originality and technical skill. Final rankings were determined by a panel of veteran industry judges Stephen Stewart and Kirk Bennett.
For their first-place finish, St George’s College walked away with a substantial prize package: a JMD 400,000 cash award from the Vinyl Records Collectors Association, a full drum kit donated by Music Mart Limited, and a professional recording session at Kingston’s renowned Mixing Lab studio. The school’s lead vocalist, Tyler Salesman, also earned individual recognition as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Performer for his standout work throughout the competition.
Other awards went to competing programs across the country. Wolmer’s Boys’ High School took home two honors: Most Improved Band and Best School Image. Hannah Lyon, leader of third-place Herbert Morrison Technical High School’s Royalty Band, was selected as Best Band Leader, while Cedar Grove Academy claimed the award for Best Original Song for their track *The Harder The Battle*. The award ceremony also featured a special guest performance from the Linstead Primary School Band, showcasing up-and-coming young musical talent across Jamaica.
A total of nine secondary schools registered for the 2026 JBSB competition, which kicked off preliminary rounds on March 2 at Excelsior High School. Notably, 2025 defending champion Dinthill Technical High School chose not to return to defend their title this year.
JBSB founder Rayven Amani shared her overall assessment of the 2026 season in an interview with the Jamaica Observer, noting that while the competition faced unforeseen challenges, the resilience of participating students was the defining highlight of the tournament. “The highlights of JBSB 2026 is the tenacity and determination shown by so many of the band members working through their various challenges, but showing up each round and performing better than the previous one,” Amani said.
Organizers had originally projected that the 2026 tournament would draw more registered schools than the 2025 edition, which hosted 12 competing programs. However, the impact of Hurricane Melissa and its widespread aftermath forced a number of schools—particularly those located in western Jamaica—to withdraw their entries ahead of the competition’s preliminary rounds. Despite the setback, Amani emphasized that the quality of performances from remaining participants exceeded expectations, highlighting the growing impact of the competition in nurturing young musical talent across the island.