Digicel Rising Stars May Pen was definitely no play pen, as over 500 persons came out to the Hotel Versalles to audition with the hope of becoming a rising star.

From the outset, it was clear that the contestants meant business as some had high hopes of being placed in the competition.

One contestant who hopes the big times will help her and her family to better circumstances is Annalese Martin. The third-time entrant who hails from Sandy Bay in Clarendon won praises from Clyde McKenzie who revealed: "You are definitely among the best we've heard today."

The prospective star sees Digicel Rising Stars as her family's ticket to the big times: "I would love to be the next star. I am from a poor background and I see this competition as an opportunity for myself and my family to have better days," said Martin.

support

The entrant, who sang the Christian favourite Like A Bridge, revealed that her singing talent was honed at the Mount Zion Seventh-day Adventist Church in Palmers Cross, and even brought members of the congregation for support.

Martin was not the only one who saw Digicel Rising Stars as a recession-beating opportunity.

Dwayne Dwyer, a farmer who travelled all the way from New Forest, Manchester, to get his chance, lamented the fall-off in the agriculture trade and believes that like Noddy Virtue, he, too, can reap success from the competition.

Annalese Martin

"Digicel Rising Stars is a great opportunity for the young and talented. If I win the competition, I want to go back to school, as I know that education is the key. I think Digicel Rising Stars can give me the opportunity to step up in life," he said.

Sitting beside Dwyer was singjay Jassie Stepps, who travelled the long distance from Portmore, St Catherine, to get his chance.

Already turned down in Portmore by the judges, the self-styled entrepreneur believes that Digicel Rising Stars is the best way for him to be all he can be: "Digicel Rising Stars is second to none in giving youths a chance to be successful. If I win the competition, I would invest some of the money in voice training and invest in my talent, as I see music as my only way out."

opportunities

This opinion was seconded by Zerron Cammeron, an unemployed welder from Bull Savannah in St Elizabeth.

The talent, who departed St Elizabeth in the wee hours of Saturday morning to get his chance, told a sad story of how the welding company he worked for closed down, leaving him jobless.

Also a singjay, the first-time entrant was optimistic about the opportunities granted by the talent show, saying: "Digicel Rising Stars is the best thing to help the youth them outa di Gideon, a nuff youth out deh want dem opportunity yah."

Digicel Rising Stars has proven to give youths the opportunity to shine. The competition, which is in its sixth year, has brought the likes of Cameal Davis, Noddy Virtue, Chris Martin, Laden, Jodian Pantry and many others to the fore, all from humble beginnings and are now making a living for themselves, having used the Digicel Rising Stars stage as a platform to launch successful music careers.

Dwayne Dwyer (left) and Jassie Stepps. - Contributed photos