Gomez, Regis crowned champs of CASTT Joey Rivers Calypso Festival

Keshawn Gomez and Isiah Regis are winners of this year’s CASTT Joey Rivers Calypso Festival. Gomez won the seven-12 age group and Regis, the 13-17 category.

A media release said this was the second year of the eponymous event, with a slight adjustment in format that made it more of a festival than a contest. The objective of the festival was to establish a developmental experience for all participants.

In addition to the final presentation of their compositions, the young talents were also exposed to a suite of performance and development tips, delivered by experts, professionals, practitioners involved in the careers of several successful artists.

Rivers developed and founded CASTT, (Calypso Art Specialists Trinidad & Tobago), in August 2016. It is a professional music facility focused on enabling the successful careers of upcoming as well as established musicians, the release said.

“The main focus is to ensure we have a next generation of calypsonians. Some of our stalwarts have left us, so I believe we must continue to engage the next set of calypsonians, so that they truly understand the value of music, production, and presentation. If they are serious about honing this craft, this is the platform to start from,” said Rivers.

At the prize-giving event, held recently at Gayelle studios in St Joseph, Rivers presented prizes to all eight participants. They each received music production (CASTT Studio); music video (Gayelle); sheet music (CASTT Publications); guitar with accessories (CASTT Music Supplies); guitar and music theory lessons from Joey Rivers CASTT Music School; appearance fee; production training and apprenticeship at Gayelle Studio; as well as professional development training from SOS Centre.

This year’s festival was also supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts and The Music House.

Present at the prize-giving ceremony was Liz Montano, mother of soca superstar Machel Montano. As guest speaker, she offered words of advice to the young artistes as well as their parents. Sharing her experience as manager to Machel, Montano said when she entered the entertainment business, she knew little about it but as educators she and her husband Monty read a lot so they could offer guidance.

“That success came from support as parents,” she said.

But the most important lesson, Montano told those present, was learning that success meant being resilient.

“Even when you enter a competition, not every time is a best win. You learn to win but you must learn to lose. So, prepare yourself from early,” she said.

The prize-giving event ended with an extempo among the young bards, who enjoyed the lyrical banter and exchange that focused on their outfits.

Rivers, a foundation member of Machel Montano and Xtatik since age 12, is an accomplished music educator, musician, and producer. He has assisted and supported artistes, musicians, folk theatre groups, choirs, steel bands, parang bands, and conventional contemporary bands over the years, the release said.