Karaoke finale features final four
TV sets all over the country will be working overtime tonight as the final four contestants in Channel 5’s annual karaoke competition battle for over five thousand dollars in cash and prizes. And while dedicated KTV fans are quite familiar with the exploits of their favourite singers on the stage, they may have forgotten that these celebrities-in-the-making, also lead normal lives. Patrick Jones reports.
Patrick Jones, Reporting
Meet Ernestine Carballo; Louis Maskall; Adilean Coffin; and Sheridath Williams. Four people… different backgrounds… one common goal: the KTV championship. And tonight each of the four finalists know that they will have reach deep into their bag of karaoke tricks to come up with the winning performance.
Adilean Coffin, Mortgage Officer, Housing Department
“Excitement. A little bit of nervousness, not too much but it’s mostly excitement. That adrenaline rush is there, you know.”
But if her adrenaline was in overdrive, Coffin, who works as Mortgage Officer with the Housing Department was doing a super human job of keeping it under control.
Ernestine Carballo on the other hand was working herself up into a state of readiness for competition.
Ernestine Carballo, KTV Finalists
“I see it very important that I train a lot and practice a lot because practice makes perfect. So that dah weh I di work towards.”
Sheridath Williams, Accounts Clerk, Scotia Bank
“Hi, I’m Sheridath and this is Scotia Bank and I’m about to show you how I’m working…living. I’m an accounts clerk and I try to help my customers. But at home, I love music and I love drawing and making people happy. I’m like the clown in the bank.”
But don’t let his smile fool you. On stage, Williams is a fierce competitor with some serious ambitions.
Sheridath Williams
“I love here and I think I’m gonna be here… I’m gonna take over my boss’ position as General Manager one of these days.”
While Williams aims for such lofty heights, the fourth KTV finalist, Louis Maskall, who is currently in between jobs, was getting some last minute encouragements from close friends.
Louis Maskall, KTV Finalist
“I’m very excited. I feel very challenged. It would mean a lot to me to accomplish this. It’s my very, very first time in a competition and this really would, makes me feel very good.”
All four competitors told News 5 that their singing base was established early in their lives, most of them with church choirs.
Adilean Coffin
“I started like about when I was like twelve. I started in church. They say most singers start in church, but that’s where I started singing. And from then, I think about two years ago, I started with the karaoke.”
Ernestine Carballo
“I first get, like associated with music and performance on stage when I was at E.P. Yorke High School. That was ’98. And from dancing I realized that no really… so my mama told me, if the pageant, because I used to attend pageants and be participant, but the pageants them noh really work, so my mother said go sing.”
Louis Maskall
“Ever since I was a kid. Ever since a five year old, I had a sister Jennifer Maskall, who has been practicing me. I was in a group, Kids Praise, and we’ve been doing a lot of singing, ever since that I was a kid growing up, you know, and something that I really grew to love.”
Sheridath Williams
“Since forever, since the day I was born. I was humming in my crib you know and I’m still humming.”
And maybe that happy-go-lucky attitude had something to do with Williams getting into the KTV finals. But it will take much more that a winning smile to land the trophy, prizes and cash.
Louis Maskall
“I like to play around. I just have fun with whatever I do. Just keep an open mind about, just having fun with whatever you do. Just be yourself.”
Adilean Coffin
“I don’t want to count my eggs before they hatch, but I will do my best and whatever happens, happens.”
Ernestine Carballo
“Well, I hope I no give nobody heart attack. (laughs) But I know for sure that I wah do mi utmost best and I just hope that they hold onto their seats tonight.”
But the time for talking is over…
Sheridath Williams
“Okay, I’ve got to get back to work, so you guys gotta go. Bye.”
The show starts at nine, at Club Calypso. Patrick Jones, for News 5.
Both Carballo and Williams are currently working on music projects, which they hope to release later this year, while Maskall has been invited to audition for the Playerz band. Adilean Coffin, recently promoted to her current post at the Housing Department, is throwing all her energy into mastering her new responsibilities.
