This A-student is a calypso star

THE REIGNING Junior Calypso Monarch, who also happened to be the joint monarch in 2003 and is an all-round grade “A” student involved in culture, academics and sports, is this week’s hero — none other than the brilliant Sheynnene Hazell, a student of Melville Memorial. This youngster comes from a family of six. She enjoys watching television, playing the keyboard, gymnastics, dancing, singing, swimming, and relaxing with a good book.

Hazell started singing calypso at the age of four. Her other accomplishments include winning many medals at inter-school gymnastic competitions and learning dance with the Marcia Charles Dance Theatre Company. She is also a member of the Marlins Swim Club and is pursuing formal training in music theory and practical with Treasure La Chapelle. Hazell also has a keen interest in learning to play the tenor pan, keyboards, and the recorder! While she is the youngest student in her class, she is one of the top students and she satisfies her quest for knowledge via the Internet and television. Hazell admitted she was not as excited as last year when she was named joint Junior Calypso Monarch but said: “I am really thrilled to have regained the crown.”

One of Hazell’s first loves is Mathematics, and she made it to the Semi Final Round of the National Mental Marathon for Standard Four students in 2002. Hazell hopes to attend St Joseph’s Convent, Port-of-Spain. “I want to be a gynacologist and to continue singing calypsoes,” she said. She recently thrilled audiences with her tribute to former South African President Nelson Mandela at a national rally held in his honour  at the Queen’s Park Oval.

Hazell says after getting home from school each day, she spends some of her time on homework, following which she spends time practicing and rehearsing her calypsoes. Asked to comment on what motivated her to compose a song on one of her heroes, cricketing great Brian Charles Lara, Hazell said: “I think Lara is a great role model for young cricketers and I think he is a hero in person.”