Exciting start to JCDC Festival of the Performing Arts auditions

Auditions for this year’s Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) 2025 National Festival of the Performing Arts competition got under way in Trelawny on January 20, and will wrap up in St. Ann on February 27.

This marks the beginning of an exciting journey for the thousands of aspiring performers who are all vying for their moment on the national stage.

“The auditions represent the very first time participants will be adjudicated,” explained JCDC’s Director of Arts Development and Training Andrew Brodber. “It is where they meet the competition for the first time, and the auditions also determine whether or not a participant will proceed to the next round or have to try again next year.”

Participants need a minimum score of 65 points to advance to parish finals. Over the coming weeks, an estimated 30,000 participants will showcase their skills across various disciplines, including speech, music, traditional folk forms, and drama

This year, the competition made a game-changing leap into the digital age with the launch of its online platform, JCDC Awards Force. This technological breakthrough has revolutionised the registration and adjudication process, making the competition faster, smarter, and more connected than ever before.

Longstanding adjudicator and renowned actor and theatre practitioner, Michael Nicholson, expressed great satisfaction with the new platform.

“We’ve gone completely digital, which means there’s no need for paper or handwritten notes anymore. Once we log in and enter our details, we can start judging right away. The system is incredibly efficient and advanced ... if we need to reference a poem or double-check any details, it’s all right there at our fingertips. This makes the entire process so much smoother and more accurate, as it eliminates any room for error or delay,” Nicholson said.

The first two days of auditions in Trelawny highlighted both the talent of participants and the efficiency of the new system. JCDC parish manager for Trelawny, Beverley Edwards-Stewart, shared her thoughts.

“The days went pretty good. The judges, staff and I are all new to the platform, but we managed to manoeuvre the software and got the show on the road.”

The auditions also showcased standout performances that left audiences captivated.

“Cedric Titus High School delivered a gripping drama piece addressing social issues. People in the auditorium got goosebumps,” Edwards-Stewart revealed. “For speech, Westwood High School stole the show with an outstanding dub poetry performance. They were really good, and we are looking forward to having them for parish finals.”

Those who are interested in attending these auditions can visit the JCDC’s website at www.jcdc.gov.jm to see the schedule.