Viva Las Vegas wins at NCC Junior Awards

The “Kids” have always been in winners’ row but in this their seventh year, designer Terry Ann Williams, who got the Mini Band Designer of the Year trophy, struck it right with her blend of rich colours which brought out all the excitement of the popular Las Vegas vacation spot, located in the Nevada desert.

The two other sisters are Christine Nunes, manager of the band and Elizabeth Inniss, who handles publicity for the production which not only copped the NCC’s top prizes but were in winners’ row at every other competition entered last February.

The band won the Mini Band of the Year — open and Mini Band of the Year — non school at the NCC Saturday morning competition; the overall prize for Fantasy Division; and were runners-up for use of local materials. There were numerous trophies and prizes for the individuals of Viva Las Vegas.The Queen of the Band, Megan Nunes, depicting “Sands of Las Vegas,” placed first in girls 12-18 category and was a Junior Queen Finalist.

She was third in the Queen of the Day at preliminary Sunday. Javier Pinder, King of the Band was second boys 9-11 and a Junior King Finalist as “The Venetian.”

Brandon Nunes depicting “Elvis has left the Building” placed third boys 12 — 18. Justin Thomas — “The Bedouin: Mythic Horseman of the Sahara” placed first boys 9 — 11 and third Male Individual Of The Year. Christina Edinborough “Headliner at the Tropicana” placed fifth girls 6-8; Justin Brooks — “Le Magique de Cirque du Soleil” was first boys 6-8; Ianna Roach — “I dreamt of Stardust & Fairies” was third girls 6-8 and Tishana St Cyr — “Flight of the Flamingo” was second girls 6-8.

At other Junior Carnival competitions, Viva Las Vegas won the first prize mini band at Flying Fish, St Anthony’s, St James, Downtown Carnival and second prize at the Red Cross. Placing first in the girls 13 plus category at both Flying Fish and St Anthony’s Megan Nunes was crowned Junior Queen of Carnival at both Flying Fish and St Anthony’s; and placing most original at Red Cross was runner-up Junior Queen. She also placed second Downtown — girls 12-18. Brooks was most original boys 6-8 at Flying Fish, St Anthony’s and Red Cross where he was also a king finalist. St Cyr placed first at Flying Fish and Red Cross girls 6-8 where she was also a Queen finalist.

Pinder was second boys 9-10 at Flying Fish, and won special prizes at St Anthony’s and Red Cross. Brandon Nunes and Christian Leong Poi “A Couple of Elvis’ hit Vegas” placed first in couples at the Downtown competition. Thomas was second boys 9-11 in St James and first boys 8-11 Downtown.

The bandleaders who treat their production seriously and have already completed designs for Carnival 2008, hosted a victory celebration yesterday, strictly for band members. Plans for the annual launch where costumes will be displayed, are already in the pipeline.