The 11 who will compete in the October 22 finals of Q95 Talent Search (QTS) have been selected after Saturday night’s semi-final round when all twenty-two competitors took to the stage performing for a capacity crowd across a number of genres, from country to reggae.
The final eleven are: Jerd Dorsette of Marigot, Chad Astaphan of St. Aroment, Shamica Sorhaindo of Delices, Royette Laurent of Portsmouth, Kishon Florent of Castle Bruce, Gershon Romain of Stockfarm, Anderson Angol of Morne Prosper, Kent Auguiste of Fond Cole, Demian Dumas of Bioche, Corlene Letang of Kingshill and Tahirah John of Trafalgar.
21 to 22
The field had been 21 after the last round of eliminations until QTS organizers responded to a public outcry to include one of those eliminated, Corlene Letang. This time she rewarded fans with a performance worthy of her place in the final eleven.
Letang reports that her re-inclusion did not engender any controversy among her fellow competitors and promises to offer a lot in the finals.
“I understand the judges had a meeting and they thought that I should have been back in so they brought me back. The others had gone to the organizers and asked why I wasn’t placed the last time and everyone was happy that I came back,” she stated.
She laughed as she continued, “I am very confident going forward and I promise a lot more in the finals but I prefer not to say too much about that.”
Controversial?
The judges’ decision to include Royette Laurent in the final eleven was a source of controversy and much talk after the show. The crowd responded with a round of boos as Laurent was the last name called as the hosts announced the eleven competitors who will be moving on.
DNO spoke to one of the judges Daryl Bobb, immediately after the show, who said, “It’s very simple to understand. I am very disappointed that the audience should boo any contestant who has made it through because they don’t understand the impact of the voting. They themselves actually put the contestants in. Their vote has so much weight that it actually shuffles the judges’ decision. So there’s really no reason to boo anybody. Everyone has their following, everyone has done their best and we the audience and the judges’ put the contestants in.”
Laurent also stated, “I felt like I put my best foot forward and I guess the judges saw something in me and my friends have been voting for me and I really feel like I deserve my place there and for finals I’m going to push more. I’m still a bit shy, but I’m gonna try my best.”
The Finals
The final round of competition will be held on the evening of October 22 at the Arawak House of Culture beginning at 8PM, although organizers do admit that they have considered taking the show to Harlem Plaza to avoid turning away patrons as happened on Saturday night.
The competition will change format with each contestant performing twice on the night, first a local song and a song from an international genre, with the cumulative scores being used to determined the winners, along with fans’ voting.
Fans can vote for their favorite contestant by texting the letters of the contestant’s first name to ‘795’using LIME cell phones.
Sponsors for QTS are LIME, Big Ben, Arden Sounds, Party Dominica and a host of other local and patriotic sponsors.
tke it home sadidi
I love andesse voice
Shamica all the way … will be at the finals to support u my girl
First off i would like to say thanks to all those who have bneen supporting from the call ins to the closed auditions all te way hrough to finals…Special thanks to God for blessing me with my Talent, to the Sixth Fon Sisserou singers and Aunty Pearl for thier continued guidance.. To the staff and members of Clear Harbor and most importantly my family members my mom, aunty jennifer, tarina, and all the rest of my home circle…
To the many dominican who displayed an outburst in thier dissatisfaction with the judges decision i’m hoping that you all can come on stage and face judges and have a little one, two as to what singing is about… It did not hurt to hear the things people said after the show it actually gave me strenght, courage and pleasure in knowing that q95 is trying thier best with the youth and you all gave such an outburst..
As they say the judges decision is final as well as the votings makes a lot of difference in the end..I gladly accept all NEGATIVE and POSITIVE comments. The negative i turn them positive. the positive i make dem better.
None the less I am in the final and i will keep on putting my best foot forward and to all the other participants both who made it and did not.. we all did a great job and hoping to see u all come december
i believe that all the participants did a great job.. most of which have stepped up from the quarters and on bayfront.. Bare in mine dominican it is not the judges that puts the top 10.. they have a sole part to play but we dominicans have the major part by our texting.. Now the judges top 10 may have been different but with the votes added it changed. You may have all the crowd support you can have but if your votes suck then cuapo smoke yout pipe so vote people vote
congrats damien behind you 100%
Congrats Tahira!! you rock girl. Continue to do you best. Good luck in the finals.
hey chad irie man i agree with asdfghjl; dominicans are closed minded the boy is beyond great people just hating cuz he is an astaphan he is good give him his due credit dat is why dominicans will never move forward
anyway keep your head up and do even better next time cuz i know you will do great things for Dominica and then the same people dat doh like you will kiss ur foot!
GO SHAMIKA GO WE KNOW U CAN DO IT.BEST OF LUCK
I WUD HAVE PLACED CARLEEN INSTEAD OF ROYETTE….BECAUSE MY OTHER 10 PICKS WAS CORRECT.WHAT WENT WRONG
It is not a matter if placing…. maybe u shudda vote more
make sure allu vote for my cousin yea…GO JERD!!!! I SUPPORT my FAMILY 100% …JERD! JERD! JERD!
GO COLOURZZZ
Chad is a good performer, i have no idea why dominicans will say they dont like him because of their CLOSE MINDED statement “maco”
seriously? GROW UP and be MATURE.
Chad is a great performer, and singer… and a wonderful friend.
chad was gooddddd and his props are good hes voice is different and thats what dominica needs
Andyyyy!
OMG everyone did soo welll andy, corlene and gershom
but st. aroment massiveeeeeeeeee
chad was great and like superbass said he is a nice person and he is very kind and i know him he is not like the other astaphans u think of. and astaphans are nice people don’t believe what the media says they are down to earth they just worked REALLY hard to get whatthey have today!
but good luck to all
hey i think all the participants did well they are all talented
Andy is great and he sings different
Chad is great his voice is unique and not becuase he is an astaphan people should hate, cuz chad is one of the nicest, wormest and is a big clown u can ask anyone ot the qts contestants!
and the girls are amazing too and royete diserved her spot!
AYEEEEEEEEE big up corlene!!!!!!!!!! you in it to win it sister
WISHIN U D BEST OF LUCK AS U PROGRESS FORWARD!!
How you mean nah! is us a self!!!!
When we do things we does it big …….. EXPEK BIG TINGS AT THE FINAL-E ……… corlene …………. U GOES GIRL… repin kingshill delices n a likle virginlane nuh man lol
I will begin by expressing disappointment in the officials and their selection of a venue that has limited capacity. Please reconsider for the final show another venue that is able to accommodate much more persons.
congratulations to corlene letang for stepping it up a notch and helping to maintain the level of the show. I was no bit suprised by the judges selection. She sings well . She’s very mature. She treats the competition like one of international standards and we see that every time she performs. I am looking forward to a marvelous performance at the finals as she seeks to acquire the winning title. One final thing – I see her as someone who can represent not only qFM but Dominica as well globally. Go TEAM corlene. check out the team corlene page on facebook and like to be a member.
BIG UP CORLENE LOVE U BOO
Yes ayee Colourzzz YOU TAKIN DAT!!
Yes ayeee colourzzzz u takin dat!!!
good luck colourz in de quarter finals
. i kno u can do it.
KENT AUGUISTE OF FOND COLE
Easily!!! RESPECT!!!! CORLENE IN DAAT!!!!!!!
to my fans 4 ur support at the semi&quater finals tannntooo
. i will continue to make u guys pround…. n next time team corlene buy ur tickets early lol. i love u all i know that u guys r dre wid me strong. it takes a lot ov guts 2 get on stage n put on a show 4 ppl n im blassed to hav u guys by my side. thanks alot, yes team corlene we goin big! n destiny i heard u callin me while i was performin 
Congrats to Demian…. You go Boy… all the best for the final…. you got our support.. Bioche massive
hello where kent auguiste name?fix it
Harold it’s plain to c dt it was a typin error…give Anderson a break in his life…i bet u cant sing a lollaby to a baby but u wanna b givin chat sayin dt Anderson cant sing n dont have a good singin voice n no stage presence.. if u had da ear for music and u knew about vocals den u could speak…Anderson is blessed he must make it through…u go Andy, we love u n do ur best on the 22nd..make us all proud….whoop whoop!!
I didn’t hear all the show but I heard the the last few men like Jerd and Gershon..they were really good. I know Kishon can sing too.. I hope a man wins this time.. .we always make women win… maybe it is the female factor and that they maybe have more friends. Go men.. and I am a woman but I love a good male singer… Hope I can be at the Finals…
But it has so many activities.. I got paid and the money nearly done.. I need creole clothes, shoes, bill money, food money, independence money, creole in the park money to buy a new phone and top up…alas…..
“I hope a man wins this time.. .we always make women win…”
maybe you might want to know that a man won QTS last yr
Corlene!!!!!!!!!!!! aye look ur biggest fan wii, finalist wii!!! yowwwwwwwwww! i in dat i in dat! Corlene letang all d way! Best of luck and blessings bbz
congrates to my bestie corlene letang….even though i cudnt get in i jus knew u had a great performance…u derserve everyting u got wit tht voice of urs dre…we gan smash dem for d finals…
ah ha trena i can tell is u…. i doh undastan hw ppl cumin show 8 16pm n kyah go inside…sah pah rite …change d venue
Congrats to all the winners.
Kent although DNO forgot u on their list, you are really a bomb….loving your voice and just loving your style. Will be there to give you my support on the night of the 22nd.
yes harold! i agree, not a huge fan of kent but that is jus not rite to be excluding the man from his opportunity to be known through this means publicity…give the man his props! do u really think anderson deserves his name to be up there twice?! come on!
I noticed that Anderson Angol’s name was put twice so DNO can always fix that error.
My problem is that we need to respect the rules and abide by them. The show is not solely based upon performance but a great deal of it depends on the voting by text. My people, if you did not get enough votes, whether you sing well or not, you will not make it. I heard some family members call Qfm and lambase judges. The rules are clear; you need the votes. Let us all understand and respect the rules and not try to change them to suit our own fantasies.
I would like to commend all those who participated in the show. They are brave and talented and I am very proud of their efforts.
While what you are saying is correct i cannot help but saying that QTS is not about talent but about popularity. the more text u get the better your chances even if your performance was jacked up and thats not fair while life is not fair thigns should be done properly in my view its just a popularity show not wining based on talent.
andy…aka reincarnated Micheal Jackson..gooo boi!!
make us proud andy…Mwahsssss
goooooooooooooooooo andy goooo
Jerd they have called you Albino and we can take a laugh on that, your entire fan base is here an we look forward to watching the competition online so far u have made it and you will make it further i have already sent home for two lime phones —–love you your BVI Crew
first of all Congrats to my girl corlene u did a wonderful job! and khennel my boy u were good
Where’s Kent Auguiste?
he made it but they put anderson’s name twice instead
am supporting Anderson and Gerhsom,cant believe we had all that talent hiding those young ppl can sing.infact all can sing.
Anderson you got my full attention and support,sing sing sing.castle comfort is with you.
Gershom all the best,if i wasnt marry you would have sang in my wedding.good singing.
yes Andy do your ting my boy.congratulations you got my support,for sure.
Kent Auguiste of fond cole is not there!!!! Get this name in the list of 11 cause that’s the winner!! Go Kent!
YESS I CHAD MAKE IT BOY ONE THING THAT BOY TALENTED AND HE HAVE THE STAGE PRESENCE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE AND I AM VERY PROUD OF ALL THE OTHER CONTESTANTS YOU ALL DID EXTREMELY WELL, WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AND KEEP STRONG AND NEVER GIVE UP
:-)
he’s an Astaphan, what u expect
good luck to all the finalist but most importantly good luck to kishon florent castle bruce massive we taking it home big time
Keshon SHOULD win that hands down eh…this guy has got a voice to die for!
CB/GH massive all de way with Keshon!
hellooooooooooooooooo DNO u’all forgot kent augusite from fond cole….. y n is anderson angol’s name types twice???. take allu time ner man
them ppl not easy na!!! a man that not going to make it because of his stage presence and singing voice allu have him twice?!!!. not a big supporter of mr KENT BUT give the man his jacket
go anderson make mp proud,,,good luck and guidance
go anderson make mp proud
congrates people do your ting
Congrates to all but to you corlene i am there for you. all the best giel make us proud.