New Beginning Radio, NBR-99.3 fm, a subsidiary of New Beginning Ministries Inc., hosted its ninth annual Christmas Solo Competition which began during the week prior to Christmas with the airing of new and original Christmas songs.
Customarily, the songs are played at specific times throughout the course of a couple weeks leading up to Christmas. And they serve to boost the station’s listenership during that period, as many folks listen to enjoy the novelty of new Christmas songs —and predict which participants are likely gain 1st, 2nd and 3rd place during the night of the actual contest.
The night of December 27th 2019 was the grand finale. The hosts for the evening were Ruthlyn Harrigan and Diann Peters. The event brought together eager members of the community who had converged at Dominion Faith Center to witness the display of the talent of five singing participants, all of whom were vying for the first place win.
The contestants for this year included: teenager Aquanisha Gumbs; ten-year-old Aliyah Webster and her sister, Brianna Webster; as well as Perry Hughes and Dwight Connor. During the preliminaries, the contestants were required to pick a number from a bag which would determine the positions for their performance.
Brianna picked number one and quickly hit the stage to blaze the trail for the rest of her contestants, with her upbeat song, “Keep the Season to be Jolly”. It was a song that depicted the kind of love and care that families and friends exhibit towards each other during the Christmas Season, and it summoned people everywhere to endeavour to maintain the feeling of Christmas so that the benevolent spirit of love can exist throughout the year.
Contestant number two was Perry Hughes who, like Brianna, had performed in the competition several times before. Perry is noted for singing thought-provoking, controversial Christmas songs. In 2015, for example, he captured the first place position with the bold performance of “It’s Not a Horn”, which was a consoling message to Joseph, assuring him that Mary did not cheat on him as he had initially suspected.
This time, Perry’s song “Christ the Man” was one that focused on the LBGT community, and it projected a ‘what if’ question — what if Christ had ever decided, like transgender men do, to change into a woman. Well, as the last chorus line goes: “then, God forbid, all hope would be lost and there would be no Christmas.”
Next to perform was contestant number three in the person of Dwight Connor, another keen veteran in the Christmas Solo Competition. Dwight, who once provided backup vocals for carnival calypsonians, dwells strictly in the calypso rhythm, and his voice is as pristine as it has always been.
Dwight’s song, “Christmas in Your Heart”, reflected on the Christmases of yesteryear when the fervor of the season was marked by a defined spirit of cheer, and the sights and sounds of gleeful celebration pervaded the air. His performance was accompanied by creative props and relics that represented the authentic customs of that era: baking in the ole rock oven and chopping down the five-finger Christmas tree and setting it up in a corner of the living room.
Contestant number four was young Aliyah Webster. As first place winner of the 2019 Junior Calypso Contest, for the National Summer Festival, she spared no effort to strut her stuff with a captivating calypso rhythm, “We Welcome Christ”. Her song brought out the truth that the main reason for Christmas is to observe the advent of Christ, and that the celebrations of Christmas should be accented by primarily worshipping Him.
Then, finally, it was time for contestant number five, Aquanisha Gumbs. Like Aliyah, Aquanisha is new to the Christmas Solo Competition arena. But unlike Aliyah, who has competed on the national stage, it was Acquanisha’s debut recording — her first song on radio, and her first time ever in a singing contest.
Her solo, entitled “Mary’s Little Lamb”, was one that invoked a mellow mood of contemplation upon Christ, God the Father’s sacrificial Lamb which He sent to redeem the world. Embracing the song with passionate persona of a claim to this redemption, she performed with a sense of fervor and charm which captivated the hearts and minds of the spellbound audience. The crowd could not resist making an uproar of resounding notes of cheer with hilarious applause while the song came to an ultimate end.
Remarkably, Acquanisha’s stellar performance enabled her to win the popularity prize. Her presentation was clear as crystal, “clean as a whistle”, and flawless.
Overall, at the end of the event, it was Aquanisha who captured the third place prize, while second place was won by Briana, and Dwight was deservingly awarded first place with his striking rendition of “Christmas in Your Heart”.
All of the songs were written by James Harrigan and the musician was Justin Richardson of Farm Studio. Backup vocals included Doris Richardson, Joan Johnson, Justin Richardson and James Harrigan.
The proprietors of New Beginning Radio, Joel J and Ruthlyn Harrigan, wish to extend thanks to all who have developed such a keen interest in participating in the contest throughout the years, as well as those who have constituted the excited audiences at each year’s grand finale.
In addition, they would like to sincerely thank all the sponsors and contributors to this year’s event, including: platinum sponsor, the Anguilla Social Security Board; Lakes World; Ashley & Sons; J.W. Proctors; Alloyds Enterprises; Arian Shipping; Paradise Cove and various supporting churches.
– Staff Reporter, James R. Harrigan
