The Bonny Kingdom Chorale Music Contest is aimed at harnessing young music talents in Bonny and beyond, the organizers have said, with a promise that the third edition would surpass expectations.

Founder and Musical Director of the Bonny Kingdom Chorale, organizers of the competition, Ibifubara William-Jumbo said this during the event which held at the Ibani-Se Hall, Bonny, rivers State.

“The aim of this competition is to create positive impact in the lives of musically talented youths in Bonny Kingdom and this gesture is sure to keep many youths out of the circles of several social vices.”

Government Girls Secondary School Finima and Government Girls Secondary School Finima UBE were crowned winners for the senior and junior categories, respectively.

Lucile Education Centre clinched the first prize in solo rendition while Government Girls Secondary School, Finima won the set piece and folksong category.

In the Junior Secondary School category, Community Secondary School, Abalamabie won the first prize in solo rendition while Government Girls Secondary School, Finima still secured the set piece and folk song category.

A total of 11 choirs from Junior and Senior Secondary Schools in Bonny LGA participated in the event, which theme was “Catching Them Young and Harnessing the Raw Music Talents”, with over 800 participants mostly students and other notable music professionals in attendance.

Each choir rendered the song, “Instruments of Peace” by Kirk and Deby Dearman, allowing the adjudicators to compare each and rate each choir’s performance.

Each choir also had the opportunity to make its own choice of a folk song in Ibani Language, render it and have the judges rate them.

The Chairman of Bonny LGA, Dame Anengi Claude-Wilcox, who was represented by her Chief of Staff, Austin Pepple, presented the trophies to the winners. Certificates of participation were also given to all participating schools.

William-Jumbo informed that the Bonny Kingdom Chorale, a non-profit organization with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration number: BN 2864873, is a singing group located in Bonny Island, Rivers State.

He used the opportunity to thank the corporate sponsors of the competition such as Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and her Joint Venture Partners, Evomec Global Services Limited (EGSL), Davfub Nigeria Limited, the Bonny Local Government Council, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Bonny Youth Federation (BYF), Finima Youth Congress (FYC), BenSwitch Nigeria Limited and Chrismilia International School, Bonny.

He also expressed his appreciation to the individual sponsors: Dr. Nimi Hart, Eric Tay-Brown, Dr. May Banigo, Dr. Akie Hart, Sir Emmanuel Warikubu, Engr. Ani Chiwendu, Fadeyibi Adeniran, Babantah Cyril Babantah and Engr. Richard Hart Jnr.