Calypso Artists Showcase Their Talents and Compete for a Cash Prize

July 28, 2023 (Toronto, ON) – The Organization of Calypso Performing Artists (OCPA) will host a competition for its best talent as part of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival Festival on Sunday, July 30th at 6:30PM, at the Latvian Culture Centre, 4 Credit Union Drive, Toronto.

The competition allows established and up-and-coming Calypso artists to exhibit their talents to an enthusiastic audience. Tickets are available for purchase on the Toronto Carnival Website.  According to Henry (King Cosmos) Gomez, OCPA’s President, “We are happy to return to a competition format after a hiatus of six years. The public has been calling for a competition, and OCPA is finally giving de people what they want.”

“Calypso music plays such an important role in Caribbean culture and deserves its own night of recognition in the Carnival festivities,” exclaimed Mischka Crichton, Festival Management Committee CEO, producers of Toronto Caribbean Carnival. “We’re proud to give Calypso artists an occasion to showcase their talents and celebrate the music that has given a voice to Caribbean people for many generations.”  Performers will be judged on their lyrical content, melodies, and overall performance of their music.

“The OCPA competition is a wonderful celebration of Caribbean music and culture,” explains Jennifer Hirlehey, Chair of the Festival Management Committee. “It’s a lovely evening where people of all ages can come and dance, enjoy the music, and show support to new artists or see some of their favourites.”

The Calypso Competition is one of the many ways that OCPA promotes Caribbean arts and culture in Ontario. By creating a platform for talented artists to display their skills, OCPA aims to foster a deeper appreciation for Caribbean music and its cultural significance.

 The Toronto Caribbean Carnival’s month-long festivities continue with the following scheduled events:

• King and Queen Showcase: Thursday, August 3rd at Lamport Stadium

• Pan Alive Panorama: Friday, August 4th at Lamport Stadium

• The Grand Parade: Saturday, August 5th, Exhibition Place and along Lakeshore Blvd.

• Pan in de Park: Sunday, August 6th at Malvern Recreation Centre/Malvern Park

• TCC International Food Festival: Sunday, August 6th at Malvern Park

Partnership support is expressed with gratitude to the following: Scarborough Town Centre, Exhibition Place, Ontario Science Centre, Metrolinx, United Local 46, Grace Foods, CTV Toronto, CP24, OCAF, Federal Government of Canada, Provincial Government of Ontario, City of Toronto, Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto FC, BBEP, Porter Airlines, OLG, Cantu, Diageo/Guinness, Street Eats, OSSTF, Spotify and US Virgin Islands.

SOURCE Toronto Caribbean Carnival