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Million-dollar voices - Knox first, Bellefield second, Godfrey Stewart third in All Together Sing 2017

Published:Monday | December 11, 2017 | 12:00 AMShereita Grizzle
Choir director of Knox College Geneva Ayre (left) collects the first-place cheque from Claire Grant, general manager, TVJ.
Members of the Ardenne High School dance troupe in action.
The victorious Knox College performing at the 2017 final of TVJ's 'All Together Sing' on Sunday.
Audience members show support for Godfrey Stewart High School.
Choir director of Godfrey Stewart High Selette Laing (left) collects the third place cheque from Adrian St Louis, marketing and sales executive, TVJ.
The choir director of Bellefield High, André Mclean (left), collects the second-place cheque from brand coordinator of Wisynco Tashany Smith, at the 2017 final of TVJ’s All Together Sing on Sunday.
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Knox College emerged the winner of this year's All Together Sing (ATS) competition.

It was a hard-fought battle among the three finalists - Knox, Godfrey Stewart High, and Bellefield High - but when the curtains closed on the competition on Sunday night, the choir described as the powerhouse from the get-go walked away the victors.

There were tears of joy and some of sorrow as the winners were announced. Members of the Bellefield High School Choir wept openly as they copped the runner-up spot.

Members of Knox College were overjoyed as they were presented with the trophy by TVJ's general manager, Claire Grant. They walked away with over $1,000,000 in cash and prizes for their efforts, including $300,000 courtesy of Cran Wata and $100,000 towards their school feeding programme, courtesy of the National Baking Company.

Bellefield High didn't go home empty-handed as they received $40,000 towards their music programme, courtesy of Popeye's. They also walked away with a share of $1 million from the Digicel Foundation, a sum to be shared with the winners as well as third place finishers Godfrey Stewart. Some $1.5 million from TVJ is also to be shared by the top schools.

It was a final show that focused more on the announcement than the fanfare that usually accompanies the climax of a talent competition. There weren't a many performances before the winner was announced, but the few who touched the stage added a little excitement to the night.

Ardenne High's dance troupe opened the evening with a performance to Hallelujah. Then, highlighting that over the years members of the choirs participating in the ATS competition had embarked on solo careers, 2017 Rising Stars finalists Anthonia and Touriss delivered a strong performance of We've Got The Love. Then the Knox, Godfrey Stewart, and Bellefield choirs graced the stage to turn in one final performance before the big announcement.