Marlon Vickerman, Features Writer

Kerri-Ann Lewis - photo by Marlon Vickerman

"It feels good, especially knowing that it was my first time. It gave me an understanding as to what is required for a competition like this, because everyone who entered was really talented, they put a lot of preparation into their material so you really had to know what you're coming with in competing with them, if you wanted to make it through to the next round."

- Kerri-Ann Lewis.

We all have Hollywood dreams and/or romantic thoughts of being in the Hollywood limelight, one way or the other. Unfortunately, for most, it will only be a fantasy, living inside our heads.

This is not the case for Kerry-Ann Lewis. Not only is she that beautiful young lady serving up smiles and useful information at the customer service desk at Victoria Mutual Building Society's Half-Way Tree Road branch, but she was also one of the few Jamaicans who shone brightly at the 11th annual World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Hollywood, California, last summer.

started with an ad

Lewis, who has been singing since she was barely old enough to properly pronounce her words, said it all started with a single advertisement. "My father saw the WCOPA ad for participants for the 2007 competition on television and told me about it. And, we contacted the competition's scout for Jamaica, who gave me the information for the audition, which was being held at the Hilton hotel," Lewis said.

At the audition, the aspiring singer said contestants were required to do a one-minute piece, which was recorded and sent to California for the national WCOPA director to view. Once deemed as 'up-to-WCOPA-standard', each contestant was notified of his or her selection to perform at the event, hailed as the earth's single-largest talent search competition. Lewis was one of those lucky individuals.

"So, from there I just started preparing for the task ahead. I performed in the Gospel, Original and World Music categories. I did one original piece, called Let Your Name Be Praised, Tami Chynn's Over And Over Again for the World Music category and for the Gospel Music category I did Lord I believe In You," she recalled. "But we (Jamaica) had about 60 representatives competing in the various categories. We had actors, models and dancers by the way."

no regrets

Although Lewis did not end up being the ultimate winner at the event, she has no regrets or disappointment regarding her journey. "I did not manage to reach the grand finals, however, I came first in the Gospel and World Music categories for females 18- 24 years and achieved the 'Champion Of The World' title in the 18-24-year-old female vocalist category at the event." This means she was the most outstanding performer in that category.

She continued: "I remember when I first came out to do the World Music piece, I came out in a costume that I had made in the Jamaican colours and as I stepped on stage, one of the judges said 'wow, she looked good'. When I heard that I came on with such confidence for that performance, and when I saw the judges rocking to my performance I knew I really had them and I got really positive feedback throughout and after the competition regarding my talent and performances."

As for future plans, Lewis has an audition with the Berklee College of Music, based in Boston, this month. She plans to study music full-time. Like she said: "I never thought I'd reach Hollywood, it was a wonderful experience and I hope that I will get that opportunity again. Sometimes the Lord allows some things to come your way that you never imagined would happen and that just opens up doors for you."

marlon.vickerman@gleanerjm.com