Best birthday present ever - Dinthill principal celebrates ‘All Together Sing’ win on his special day

Dinthill Technical High School's historic victory in Television Jamaica's All Together Sing competition on Sunday night was a moment that will forever be etched in the heart of the school's principal, Anthony Garwood. Not only did the Linstead-based institution claim its first-ever win in the prestigious competition, but the milestone was made even more special by the fact that it came on Garwood's birthday.

"Winning this, the 18th staging of All Together Sing, is an awesome feeling. We're winning it for the first time, and this is not the last time we'll be winning it in years to come," Garwood said, clearly overwhelmed by emotion. "Especially winning it on a day like today, my birthday, is the best birthday present I've ever received in my umpteen years."

Dinthill's journey to the top was far from easy. In a competition filled with talented choirs, the school faced significant challenges, including being voted off at one stage. However, in a dramatic twist, the judges brought them back into the race by selecting them as their Golden Note Pick, securing their place as the champions. Central High placed second, with St Jago High taking third.

For choir director and choreographer Trishana Sinclair, and music teacher Rhoan Johnson, this victory was the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance. Overcome with excitement, Sinclair shared her feelings shortly after the announcement. "Definitely, we're in awe. We are overwhelmed with excitement and enthusiasm," she said, her voice still filled with emotion.

The journey, as Sinclair explained, had been long and demanding. "It's been a long road, a very long road, and someone once told me, 'Put God first, and He will do the rest.' And that's exactly what we did. We worked tirelessly -- staying up late, making tracks, researching choreography -- and now we're reaping the rewards of that dedication."

Johnson echoed the sentiment, reflecting on the intense effort behind the scenes. "We did a lot of work staying up late, making tracks, doing research for choreography, coming in the next day to try to put everything together," he said. "It's been a tough journey, but we're seeing the fruit of our labour tonight."

The victory was also a testament to the faith the team had in their performance. While Sinclair was stunned by the judges' decision to award them the Golden Note, Johnson had been more confident.

"We knew we were going to be the golden note," he said with a grin. "Not to brag, but we knew. So, when we got the call, we were not that surprised. We knew we couldn't drop out of the race."

Sinclair added, "We are honoured to have been chosen as the golden note out of all the choirs," acknowledging the tough competition they had faced along the way.

Along with the immense pride and prestige of being crowned champions, Dinthill High was awarded substantial prizes. The school walked away with a grand cash prize of $750,000 from Television Jamaica, $100,000 from Popeyes, and miniature trophies for each choir member. Central High, the runner-up, received a $450,000 cash prize from TVJ, $75,000 from Popeyes, and silver medals for its choir members. St Jago High took home a $300,000 cash prize, $50,000 from Popeyes, and bronze medals for their choir members.