Digicel Rising Stars auditions in Ocho Rios was a smash with amazing talent and several interesting characters gracing the stage. The fourth auditions for this the 7th season of Digicel Rising Stars was held at he Hibiscus lodge in Ocho Rios on April 18. With almost two hundred contestant turning out despite the constant threat of rain there is the distinct possibility that the 2010 Digicel Rising Star might come from St Ann.

This rastaman brought his guitar but not much talent.jpg This rastaman brought his guitar but not much talent.

Series producer for the hit series, Sharon Schroeter, says St Ann was a confidence booster for the show’s organisers: “The talent here was plenty, we saw many contestants who have what it takes to be on the Digicel Rising Stars main stage. What is also true is that there were some talent that just needed a little bit more time to hone their craft and this augers well for the future of Digicel Rising Stars as we have told them to come back when they are ready”

Rising Stars host hopeful Julie Malcolm is serenaded by a contestant in Ocho Rios

Julie Malcolm who is vying for the position of host of Digicel Rising Stars 2010 was at the audition interacting with the contestants: “It was an exciting experience for me as I met some very interesting characters and saw some good talent. The Digicel Rising Stars' family were also extremely professional and very supportive of me. I had some real fun, I learnt a lot and I hope to land the position so that I can be a part of this great competition”.


Talented 19 year old Chrystal Rhoden was asked to hone her skills a bit more and try again next year


Judges Anthony Miller, Nadine Sutherland and Clyde McKenzie were treated to a good combination of what the garden parish had to offer. Throughout the day contestants came with Dancehall, R&B, Gospel and Reggae, with a large majority of contestants choosing to do renditions of old but loved R&B songs from the likes of Witney Houston, Mariah Carey, Jagged Edge and other acts from the 90’s and 80’s.

Digicel Rising Stars' auditions continue this Saturday (April 24) at the Girl Guides Headquarters in Kingston. Auditions begin at 8am and end at 3pm!

After seeing hundreds of hopefuls during two open auditions in Montego Bay and Kingston over a week ago, Digicel Rising Stars’ producers have chosen the top six candidates in the race to become the new host of the popular television show.

The chosen six are: Kemesha Bolton, Cameka McRae, Deidre James, Julie Malcolm, Terri-Karelle Reid and Lady Rennae.

KEMESHA BOLTON

The first Digicel Rising Stars’ host hopeful to face an audience will be Kemesha Bolton as she’ll be holding things down at the Clarendon audition in May Pen on Saturday April 11. Kemesha who is from Kingston, is a student at Mico University College where she is completing a bachelor’s degree in Primary Education.

Kemesha says she’s excited about facing the Clarendon audience and she’s looking forward to having a great time in May Pen: “I’m definitely looking forward to it, I love television, I love hosting and performing.”

Kemesha says she’s nervous about facing the crowd on Saturday but she has been practicing: “I’m very nervous about the audition but I plan to do my best. I’ve been in front of the mirror everyday practicing, trying to think about the things I love about the show and how I can make them better.”

CAMEKA MCRAE

The next day the Digicel Rising Stars auditions will be in the sunshine city where Cameka McRae will get her chance to shine. Cameka says she’s happy to have been selected: “I’m excited, I just can’t wait to show Jamaica my bubbly personality and that I’m capable of being the next host”.

Cameka who is from Portmore says she doesn’t think that hosting a show in her home town will give her an edge: “I don’t think it will, I don’t think it’s easier either and I would be comfortable hosting in any of the five locations.”

Cameka who is a television producer by profession has a communications degree from Northern Caribbean University. She is quick to point out that she’s a church girl with spunk who is not afraid to speak her mind: “What you see is what you get. I’m very real. I don't think I'm better than a soul. I like to think I speak my mind most of the time. I’m very creative and I have a wild imagination and I'm not afraid of new things.”

DEIDRA JAMES

The Digicel Rising Stars team is on the north coast with week two of auditions in Montego Bay and Ocho Rios. The Montego Bay auditions are on Saturday April 17 at the Wexford Hotel and Deidra James will be performing hosting duties. Despite growing up in Kingston, Deidra is no stranger to the north coast as she was born in St.Ann.

Deidre is probably best known for working as a presenter on Fame FM. She says she hopes that experience will help her in the drive to be the next Digicel Rising Stars host: “I've always had an affinity for entertainment, hence my natural drive for the industry… I do have some experience in TV & broadcasting, so that may work to my advantage, hopefully.”

Deidre says she plans to bring lots of fun and excitement to the audition: “I really just want to be myself. I truly enjoy making people happy and making them laugh, even at my own expense, in fact, MOSTLY at my own expense.”

JULIE MALCOLM

On Sunday April 18 at the Hibiscus Lodge in Ocho Rios, Julie Malcolm will be putting her best hosting skills on the line trying to win over Jamaicans. Julie who is from Clarendon says she went crazy with excitement when she was told she made it to the top six: “I felt like screaming and rolling on the floor and I actually did. Seriously though, I felt humbled that out of so many qualified applicants; even television presenters that I admire, the judges chose me...wow!...I still have goose pimples.”

Julie says she hopes the experience she’s garnered from teaching for over a decade and entering several competitions helps her shine on the Digicel Rising Stars stage. She’s also banking heavily on her personality to help win over voters: “My warm and bubbly personality enables me to connect with people from varying cultures.”

TERRI-KARELLE REID

The final host hopefuls Terri-Karelle Reid and Lady Rennae will take the mic when the Digicel Rising Stars auditions come to Kingston for back to back shows at the Girl Guides Headquarters on April 24 and 25.

Former Miss Jamaica World Terri-Karelle Reid will take control of the Saturday audition and she says she’s looking forward to a big day: “Day one of the Kingston Auditions usually has one of the highest volumes of hopefuls. I plan on being myself: spunky, bubbly, down-to earth. I think it is very important to have fun with it but also relate to the participants and create a relaxing vibe and a comfortable environment for them so that they can put their best foot forward when facing the judges (which can be very intimidating).”

Terri-Karelle says her reign as Miss Jamaica World in 2005 has given her a platform to showcase her personality and be a public servant which has prepared her for several challenges including this one.

LADY RENNAE

Digicel Rising Stars wraps up Season 7 audition shows with day 2 of the Kingston auditions hosted by Lady Rennae and she can’t wait to see what Kingston has to offer.

Lady Rennae says she thinks she has a good chance of being the next Digicel Rising Stars’ host: “I'm a person who loves music and am a great supporter of Jamaican talent...with all the chaos and excitement that will be taking place in the competition, the auditioners really need someone they can feel comfortable around and the voters want someone real and relatable.”

Lady Rennae points out that she’s been in the media industry since her early teens and now, as a stable presenter on Fame FM and RETV, she says she’s quite comfortable behind the microphone.

Despite coming pretty close the last time Digicel Rising Stars was looking for a new host, she points out that this time things will be different: “Bwoy last time I was so in awe of it all, but this time I'm going to show the Digicel Rising Stars audience and the producers of the show more of Lady Rennae, more of my charisma, versatility, charm, raw talent - and most importantly the professionalism required for a show of this calibre.”

Jamaica will get a chance to see Kemesha Bolton, Cameka McRae, Deidre James, Julie Malcolm, Terri-Karelle Reid and Lady Rennae host Digicel Rising Stars’ auditions when they air on TVJ starting on Sunday June 13. Rising Stars’ fans will then be able to vote and choose who they want to be the new series host.

Digicel Rising Stars has returned to TVJ for the 7th year and promises to be more exciting than ever. This year the popular talent show returns with a new set, new features and the most exciting change: A New Series Host.

For the first time in Digicel Rising Stars' history, the producers are allowing the Jamaican viewers to choose their own host. Digicel Rising Stars will head to Montego Bay tomorrow (Tuesday, March 30) and Kingston on Thursday (April 1) for the first set of auditions for this the 7th season of the number one show on Jamaican TV. These auditions however, will not be open to prospective contestants but instead for any Jamaican who thinks they have the skills and pizazz to be the next host of Digicel Rising Stars.

With the exit of 2007 Miss Jamaica World Yendi Phillipps as host of the hit series, the producers of Digicel Rising Stars made the decision to open auditions for the host of the 2010 Digicel Rising Stars to the public. Series producer Sharon Schroeter believes opening the auditions for the Digicel Rising Stars series host is the best way forward: “Anyone in Jamaica, male or female, over the age of 18 who believes they have the talent the vibe and the excitement to be the next host for Digicel Rising Stars can audition. Jamaica has, over the last several years, embraced to competition and we thought it would be a great idea for Jamaica to choose who they feel is the best person to be the next host.”

Tuesday March 30 will be the first of two auditions from which the new host will be chosen. This audition will be held at the Wexford Court Hotel in Montego between 2pm and 7pm. The second audition will be in Kingston on Thursday April 1 at the Knutsford Court Hotel between 12pm and 7pm. After the two auditions in Montego Bay and Kingston, producers of the show will choose six finalists who will compete for the enviable position of Digicel Rising Stars series host. The six will then have the opportunity to show Jamaica their capabilities by hosting the contestant auditions at the five locations throughout Jamaica. At the end of each audition show (to be aired in June) viewers will get their chance to vote for who they believe has what it takes to capture the main stage of Digicel Rising Stars. Jamaica will then be introduced to their new Digicel Rising Stars’ series host at the much anticipated first Live show on Sunday July 4.

So if you think you have what it takes to be the next Digicel Rising Stars' host, bring it to the auditions this Tuesday at the Wexford Court Hotel in Montego Bay or in Kingston on Thursday at the Knutsford Court Hotel and get your chance at stardom.

DIGICEL RISING STARS' HOST AUDITION DATES

Montego Bay: Tuesday March 30 - Wexford Court Hotel 2PM – 7PM

Kingston: Thursday April 1 - Knutsford Court Hotel 12PM – 7PM

Digicel Rising Stars 2009 auditions have kicked off in Portmore Jamaica, at the Portmore Heart Academy.

Preliminary judges for auditions this year are Michael Holgate (Digicel Rising Stars' performance director), Michael Harris (Digicel Rising Stars' vocal coach), Michael Daley (actor and script writer) and Rovletta Fraser (back-up singer for Jr Gong).

Here is the schedule of the upcoming auditions. Good luck!!!!!

Saturday April 25, Wexford Hotel, Montego Bay
Saturday May 2, Hotel Versailles, May Pen
Saturday May 9, Hibiscus Lodge Hotel, Ocho Rios
Saturday May 15, Girl Guides Head Quarters, Kingston

**********Auditions are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m at each location****************

Digicel Rising Stars returns for its sixth season on April 18 with its first audition in Portmore. The talent competition which had its launch live on TVJ'S Smile Jamaica this morning is poised to be better than last year.

Yendi Phillips

Yendi Phillips is back on board for this years’ competition and all systems are go for the most popular show in the history of Jamaican television to start rolling cameras in search of Jamaica’s next Rising Star. Of course the judges will be there and Kiki will be in the Chill Room holding it down!!

The show’s producer, Sharon Schroeter can’t wait to get the ball rolling: “Our first auditions are April 18 in Portmore, and we move from there to Ocho Rios then onto Montego Bay, from there to May Pen, and then ending in Kingston.

Some changes expected this year:
*auditions will be held in May Pen for the first time
* auditions will be one day instead of two
* more stories about the contestants courtesy Digicel--giving you a more intimate look at each persons journey
*fans can expect a better qualigy show due to increased hours of production


Digicel’s Brand marketing Manager, Marlon Davis commented that Digicel is more than pleased to be able to continue as the shows’ title sponsor.

This is one of those projects that we are especially pleased about as the show gets bigger and better every year. As almost every Jamaican watches Digicel Rising Stars, the show brings Jamaica's biggest family together, the Digicel Family.”Davis said, adding that he’s particularly excited about the live launch, and the changes in production.

Cameal Davies 2008 winner

These sentiments were echoed by the show’s executive producer, Tahnida Nunes: “This season is going to be our most exciting season yet,” a smiling Nunes said. “While it’s going to be a little more work from our end in terms of the hours we’ll have to put in for production of the show, Digicel Rising Stars 2009 is shaping up to be a fantastic ride. Last year, we had our first female winner and that was amazing, so who knows what else can happen this year


After the auditions only 16 lucky finalists will see their berth into the studio finals, and benefit from experienced hands like Michael Harris and Michael Holgate, the shows’ voice specialist and performance director.

One thing is certain... of those 16, only one will become the 2009 Digicel Rising Star.

For the first time ever in its five year history Jamaica has a Digicel Rising Stars female champion.

Cameal Davies from the Kingston 14 community of Denham Town beat out the final man standing (men really since it’s a five member group) Kahlil. She beat them in all three performances on Sunday September 28^th.

Judge Nadine Sutherland told her that she did not win because she is a woman but because she is the best.

Not only great on the stage, her accomplishments include being appointed head girl, student of the year and valedictorian of her graduating class in 2003. That same year, she received a scholarship to attend a summer programme at Kettering University in Michigan. She now goes on to represent Jamaica at the Regional leg of the competition in Barbados.

The Live Television shows will take place at St Gabrielles school in st Michael and starts at 6pm every Saturday with the grand finale on November 15^th. Grand prize is $10,000.00 cash USD, a recording contract and a Sony Ericsson phone.