The man in the Red Bra is our new Caylpso Monarch!

Structure Wins It All

The 2011 Calypso Monarch competition was held this evening at the Chinese Cultural Centre’s P.C. Ho Theatre in Scarborough. Structure beat out 8 other competitors in a 4-hour showdown amongst Canada's best Caylpso singers.

Structure (Bryan Thornhill) won the crown, besting last year's Queen, Macomere FeFe (Eulith Tara Woods) and long-time performer Panman Pat (McNeil). Woods and McNeil tied for second place.

Structure won the contest in part because of a song that he wrote and performed about a series of murders that occurred around Canadian Air Force Base Trenton. Structure wore a woman's pair of red underwear underneath a Canadian Forces' green jump suit, much as Russell Williams, the convicted Trenton murderer and fetish burgler, is known to have worn.

THE RESULTS

Calypso prize goes to Structure

Canada’s top calypso music prize – Kaiso 365 – was captured by Bryan Structure Thornhill before a capacity crowd in the P.C. Ho Theatre of the Chinese Cultural Centre. In a hotly contested battle between nine singers performing two songs each, Barbadian-born Structure also won the coveted People’s Choice Award and several other Special Awards for Lyrics, Melody, Presentation, Originality, Rendition and Humour.

2011 “KAISO 365” CALYPSO MONARCH RESULTS

Winner Structure – Bryan Thornhill
2nd (tie) Macomere Fifi – Eulith Tara Woods
Pan Man Pat – Pat McNeilly
4th Beginner – Michael Moore
5th Spice – Denise Quammie Alexander
6th Mr. Wonderful – Steve Clarke
7th (tie) Newton P – Newton Phillips
Redman – Michael Thomas
8th King Smokey – Clieve Henry

2011 “KAISO 365” CALYPSO MONARCH – SPECIAL AWARDS

BEST LYRICS: Structure – Trenton Monster

BEST MELODY: Structure – Trenton Monster

BEST PRESENTATION:
(tie) Structure – Trenton Monster
Newton P – Old Age Pension

MOST ORIGINAL CALYPSO:
Structure – Trenton Monster

BEST RENDITION:
Structure – Trenton Monster

BEST COMPOSITION ON A LOCAL TOPIC:
Panman Pat – Stop The Gravy Train

MOST HUMOUROUS CALYPSO:
Structure – Trenton Monster

BEST ARRANGEMENT:
Michael “Skel” Redhead – Tackling The Issues(sung by Macomere Fifi)

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Structure
Structure has won the Calypso Monarch title in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007.
Structure will take home a cash prize of over $6,000.00 and will be sent to represent Canada in London, U.K in next year’s Notting Hill Carnival, as part of an exchange programme with the Association of British Calypsonians (ABC) that saw their 2010 Calypso Monarch Alexander D Great perform here as a Special Guest.
For more information contact OCPA at (416) 795-2722 or visit our website at
www.ocpacalypsoca.com


Cutline: some of the 8 other contestants stand behind the throne as Structure is crowned the 2011 Calypso Monarch.
Middle: Singer King Cosmos (Henry Gomez) strips Structure on stage revealing a set of red women's underwear.
Bottom: Structure sings his winning song to the media.

Singing Competition this Saturday evening in Scarborough - Calypso Monarch

2011 Calypso Monarch Competition
Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival

The Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes (OCPA) will hold the KAISO365 Calypso Monarch Competition, Saturday, July 23, 2011 to choose the top Calypso singer at the Chinese Cultural Centre, (P.C. Ho. Theatre) 5183 Sheppard Avenue, East, (Parking entrance on Progress Avenue).
Finalists this year are: Spice, King Smokey, Beginner, Newton P, Mr. Wonderful, Panman Pat, Structure, and Redman.
The nine finalists – eight plus last year's winner Macomere Fifi - will perform two newly composed calypsos before a panel of judges. Each song will be awarded points out of a maximum of 100 points divided into five (5) categories as follows:
Lyrics 30
Melody 30
Vocal Rendition 25
Originality 10
Presentation 5
In addition, there will be the following special awards categories: Most Original, Best Competition on a Local Topic, Most Humorous, Best Arrangement, Best New Artiste.
The Calypso Monarch Competition attracts singers from across the GTA and beyond and has been held annually in Toronto for the past 30 years. The 2010 first prizewinner was Macomere Fifi singing, “ Haiti will Rise Again” and “Your Turn To Die”. Macomere Fifi will be defending her crown.
The Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes is a non-profit organization whose offices are located at Suite 120 – 215 Spadina Ave., Toronto ON. M5T 2C7.

2010 CALYPSO COMPETITION RESULTS

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Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes (OCPA)
“KAISO 365” Calypso Monarch Finals

Toronto, ON, Canada: The Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes (OCPA) hosted its 2010 “KAISO 365” Calypso Monarch Finals at The Imperial Oil Auditorium, Ontario Science Centre on Saturday, July 24th, 2010. This sold out event saw nine calypsonians compete for the title of OCPA’s 2010 Calypso Monarch.

A panel of qualified, volunteer judges awarded points based on the following criteria: Lyrics (max. 35 points); Melody (20); Rendition (25); Presentation (10); and Originality (10) for a total of 100 points. The order of merit was determined by discarding the highest and the lowest score per contestant. 2010 OCPA Head Judge: Lennox Borel.

The above judging criteria was used for OCPA’s Preliminary, and Final competition(s). The judges’ decision is final, and the Monarch results were announced at the end of the July 24th show. They are as follows:

2010 OPCA Kaiso 365 - Calypso Monarch Results

RANK - NAME (STAGE NAME - SOBRIQUET) - HERITAGE
1st Eulith Tara Woods (MACOMERE FIFI) - Tobagonian-Canadian
2nd Michael Thomas (REDMAN) - Grenadian-Canadian (2009 defending champ)
3rd Bryan Thornhill (STRUCTURE) - Barbadian-Canadian
4th Hamilton Alexander (The WEB) - Trinidadian-Canadian
5th Smokey Burke (SMOKEY) - Barbadian-Canadian
6th Guney Cedeno (GUNEY) - Trinidadian-Canadian
7th Zunaki Tuitt (NAKI) - Trinidadian-Canadian
8th Leslie Carrabon (DeCARRA) - Trinidadian-Canadian
9th Trevor Quammie (PENSHIONER) - Trinidadian-Canadian

In addition to a cash prize of over $5000, Eulith Tara Woods (Macomere Fifi) will receive a trip to London , England for its Notting Hill Carnival, and a trip to Atlanta for its 2011 Georgia Caribbean Carnival.

The 2010 OCPA Kaiso 365 Canadian Calypso Monarch Finals was carried live-to-air on Saturday, July 24th, 2010 on radio locally and worldwide via CHRY 105.5FM (www.chry.fm). Special guest performances were had from Young Rashida, and Akima Paul – 2009 London Calypso Monarch.

Nine other annual, special awards were also announced on Saturday, July 24th, 2010. They included:

BEST LYRICS
“Your Turn to Die” – Winston Maingot and Carlyle Bailey

BEST MELODY
“Your Turn to Die” – Winston Maingot

BEST PRESENTATION
Eulith Tara Woods (Macomere Fifi) for the song “Haiti Will Rise Again”

BEST VOCAL RENDITION
Eulith Tara Woods (Macomere Fifi) for the song “Your Turn to Die”

MOST ORIGINAL CALYPSO
“ Haiti Will Rise Again” – Lyrics by Winston Maingot and Carlyle Bailey; Melody by Winston
Maingot; Sung by Eulith Tara Woods (Macomere Fifi)

BEST COMPOSITION ON A LOCAL TOPIC
“We Watching You” – Lyrics by Bryan Thornhill

MOST HUMOUROUS CALYPSO
“It Ain’t Right” – Lyrics by Kenny Quammie; Melody by Mathew John; Arranged by Kenny
Quammie & Mathew John; Sung by Trevor Quammie (Penshioner)

BEST ARRANGEMENT
“ Haiti Will Rise Again” – Winston Maingot

PEOPLE’S CHOICE
Eulith Tara Woods (Macomere Fifi)

The "Kaiso 365" Calypso Monarch competition is presented by the Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes (OCPA), a non-profit arts organization (www.ocpacalypsoca.com). OCPA is a cultural presenting partner in the annual Scotiabank Caribana Festival (www.caribanafestival.com).

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Media Contacts:

Stephen Weir
Stephen Weir & Associates
Tel: 416-801-3101
Email: stephen@stephenweir.com

Scotiabank Caribana 2010 - Event Calender issued by Stephen Weir & Associates

The official Caribana 2010 event schedule has been released. The current schedule does not include any new events but that could change in the coming months.

CARIBANA™ 2010 OFFICIAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Calypso Tents Music Series
Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays from June 5 - July 4, 2010; 8:00 pm - Midnight
This is an exciting annual showcase of Canada's best Calypso and Soca original music for the Caribana Festival. The series runs three nights each week (Friday Sunday) at various venues in Toronto, each night featuring a different cast of singers and 'live' bands performing Calypso in its best storytelling tradition: social and political commentary, humor and wit.

Scotiabank CARIBANA™ Official Launch
Nathan Phillips Square, City Hall
Tuesday July 13, 2010; Noon - 2:00 pm
This official ceremony launches the activities for the 2009 Caribana Festival Season. Patrons can meet and mingle with Federal, Provincial and Municipal officials, Caribana representatives and sponsors while sampling Caribbean and international cuisine. It is a snapshot of what's in store over the coming weeks.

Scotiabank CARIBANA™ Junior Carnival
Shoreham Drive | Yorkgate Mall
Saturday, July 17, 2010; 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Junior Carnival provides festival-goers and the surrounding community the opportunity to experience the thrills and joys as young masqueraders participate in their early festival years.

Art Exhibition
Royal Ontario Museum
Thursday July 22 – Monday Aug 2, 2010; Noon - 9:00 pm
The Association of African Canadian Artists presents original paintings and sculptures that have been influenced by the diversity of our people.

Scotiabank CARIBANA™ Caribana Gala
Liberty Grand – Exhibition Place
Friday July 23, 2010; 6:30 pm – 1:00 am
An elegant evening of style and glamour, celebrating Caribana and paying tribute to its pioneers.

Kaiso 365 (Calypso Monarch Finals)
Venue TBA
Saturday July 24 - 7pm - Midnight
This is where the Calypso Monarch is crowned. Come and see the best and biggest Canadian Calypsonians battle for the crown. From the topical to the lyrical, the sweet soca rhythms will lift you out of your seat and get you moving.

King & Queen Competition
Lamport Stadium
Thursday July 29, 2010; 7:00 pm - Midnight
On the Thursday evening before Caribana Day the Kings and Queens of the Bands meet to do battle. Like peacocks they will primp and preen, eliciting “oohs” and “aahs” from the audience. It is an honour for any participant to be enthroned the King or Queen of Scotiabank Caribana 2009. The King and Queen symbolically have the keys to the city, freedom of the streets. Their movements are supposed to be uninhibited. Band members and onlookers alike are to give them the respect, even if mockingly, usually accorded to real-life royalty
(Admission: $27 in advance. $35 at the door)

Pan Alive
Lamport Stadium
Friday July 30, 2010; 7:00 pm - Midnight
A thrilling evening showcasing the musical and tonal qualities of the steelpan as members of the Ontario Steelband Association compete before a panel of judges. This Panorama of the North is the biggest opportunity to hear this wonderful instrument in all its glory. The evening is devoted entirely to the capturing rhythms of the steelpan.
(Admission: $20 in advance)

Scotiabank CARIBANA™ Parade
Exhibition Place (Lake Shore Blvd)
Saturday July 31st, 2010; 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
This showcase event features an incredible display of colour and pageantry, commencing at Exhibition Place and proceeding west along Lake Shore Boulevard. Exhibition Place and Lake Shore Boulevard will come alive with the sights and sounds of Carnival!
(Admission: $18)

De CARIBANA™ Lime
Ontario Place
Sunday August 1, 2010;12:pm am – 8:00 pm
This event features a full day of performances from a variety of artistes, highlighting the diverse cultures of all the Caribbean people. Activities include a food competition, song, dance, theatrical drama and storytelling.
(Admission $14)
For more information please visit www.CaribanaFestival.com or post a comment on this site, and your questions will be answered!
Cutline: Blue stiltwalker at the Scotiabank Caribana Lime 09, Ontario Place. Photograph by Andrew Weir