After ending 2009 with a bang, TEENage decided to pick up where we left off on our Expression Tour and the lucky school this time was Irwin High. Located on the outskirts of Montego Bay, St James the school was built in 2004 and enrols just under 1,400 students. The talent in the rural community of Irwin was about to turn up some talent that only TEENage Observer could reveal.

Even before the venue for the concert was fully prepared, hundreds of students had already gathered around the stage area singing along to the selections of a teacher. This was the first sign that our team was in store for something sterling from Irwin.

The school’s harmonious choir was the first to grace the stage and kick start the never-ending vibes and talent at Irwin High.

Up next was dub poet Britney Cameron, with a piece titled Grace Kitchen. Britney was well received by her fellow students and the bar was now raised for the others to be judged. Jasper Downer then did a rendition of Mary Mary’s Can’t Give Up Now, but it was the diminutive figure of Tashmar, also called Deejay Trooper, who had the audience rocking and begging for more as he unleashed the lyrics of his song titled Teacha.

The students were by now in the concert mood and not even a glitch with the sound system could stop. The students were treated to something special when the school’s chef came on stage to show that he was not only talented in the kitchen. Controlling the stage with an original song and a unique voice, he left many wondering why he was working in a kitchen. Marketing and communications officer at the Jamaica Observer Cassania Lewis-Jarrety was again up to here tricks as she gave prizes to persons who could answer question pertaining to the TEENage Observer.

The Sign Language Club then graced the stage performing to Nicole C Mullens’ My Redeemer Lives.

Irwin’s Dance group then gave their fellow students a lesson or two in the latest dance moves while Lewis-Jarrety joined them in learning the’ Skip To Ma Lou’ and enquiring about ‘Nuh behaviour’.

Tian Burton and Nickoy Brisset both had short stints on stage but Sanjay Morrison’s melodic voice had the girls captivated by his performance.

Just when we thought it could not get any better, on came the duo of Olivia and Tishae doing a drama piece. While the performance was a bit long, it was certainly one to watch repeatedly.

Trevor Fearon and Friends again sent the students in a dancing frenzy while at the request of the crowd female student Crisan Maxwell took centre stage to demonstrate a few moves of her own. The teacher’s then took their turn on stage as the panel of judges came to a final decision as to who was Irwin’s top talent.

At the end of the performances Olivia and Tishae were crowned TEENage Expression Tour winners, Britney Cameron placed second and Tashmar placed third.

By this time, everyone in attendance was impatiently awaiting the special guest artiste who was already backstage. Therefore, when the beautiful voice of Alaine pierced the sound systems it was no surprised that the once seated students rushed the front of the stage. Alaine had the students singing along with her on every selection, and when she closed off with her hit single ‘We Rise’ it came across as a well taught lesson as the students again sang without hesitation.