As the date draws nearer, excitement is mounting for the 2011 edition of Piton Soca Starz. Judging by the buzz last Saturday, when auditions were held at Caribbean Cocktails in Castries to select a host for the TV production of the event, there is heightened interest for this year’s event. From several entries the list was narrowed to eight for the auditions and participants included Jessica St Rose, Grace Angelo, Solange Stanislaus, Steven Edmund, Hyacynth Frederick, Cura Fedee’, Leanna Johannes and Edicia Popo. A panel, headed by Shayne Sherry of Choice gave the participants three areas on which they were assessed. These included an introduction, their ability to hype the crowd and a short interview with a performer.
Over the next week the auditions will be aired on Choice TV channel 39 and the public will have a chance to weigh in on the choice for TV host through their votes. The winner for the TV host of Piton Soca Starz 2011 will be announced on Wednesday April 20th at the official launch of this year’s event.
Piton Soca Starz will kick off this year on April 26 in Gros Islet and will culminate with the grand finals on June 24. The Soca song contest, an initiative of Windward and Leeward Brewery and its signature Saint Lucian brand Piton Beer, made its debut last year and was won by aspiring soca star Mongstar.
Piton Soca Starz is an opportunity for up and coming Saint Lucian Soca artiste to have a shot at going main-stream, giving maximum exposure to participants through the numerous Television programs, print media and radio. The event is broadcast on Choice Television three times a week. The addition this year of a search for a host is an added dimension of the event which seeks to expose young Saint Lucian talent.
