Hollywood Here They Come!



DEJOUR ALEXANDER ~ SONGWRITING

Singer, songwriter Dejour Alexander loves music; it is his passion. 

Recorded at Island Soul Entertainment, his song, “Take a Ride”, won the ZIZ Song Competition for 2011 and continues to be played on both ZIZ and Freedom Radio stations.  “Don’t Love Me” and “Get on the Floor” are two other original songs written by Dejour, and are selections he performs regularly at concerts and other national events, including the opening of the 2012 Music Festival.  Dejour has been signed to the IREP SKN music label, a local music production company in St. Kitts. 

Dejour is part of a very close family and feels that he has been especially influenced by his father who has consistently shown him how to be the best man he can be.  He is also a positive young man believing that you can achieve anything you put your mind to; it is a philosophy that keeps him strong and focused.

Dejour is a congregant at Antioch Baptist Church. Though he explained there was a time when he didn’t attend church regularly – he feels he had not really developed his spiritual side yet – once invited to sing at Antioch Baptist by Pastor Lincoln Connor, Dejour discovered a deeper faith and decided to commit to regular Sunday attendance where he not only sings in the church choir, but plays the bells.  Dejour also volunteers as a Vacation Bible School leader for two weeks each summer.

Dejour faces life with a delightful sense of humor. Believing that laughter is contagious, he uses his sense of humor to bring joy to others.  “Laughter can relieve stress and conflict,” he said. “Nothing works faster to lift your spirits than a good laugh.”

When asked how he felt about being selected as a Remarkable Teen, Dejour said, “I am grateful for the recognition and humbled by the opportunity to represent the positive accomplishments of youth in the Federation.”  He said he may even write a song about it.

While Dejour plans to pursue his options as a musician: writing, singing and producing his own records, he is also focused on his academic accomplishments and plans to continue his post secondary school education with the goal of attending medical school to become a surgeon.

DeJour Alexander is a 16-year old fifth form student at Washington Archibald High School.  He is being recognized as a Remarkable Teen in the category of Songwriting.





TEHYA FLEMING ~ DANCE

Tehya Fleming loves to dance.  “Dancing is very emotional for me,” she said.  “When I’m experiencing a strong feeling, dance is the language I use to express myself; my whole body becomes part of the message.”

Tehya has been dancing for five years.  She is a member of the Charles E. Mills Secondary School Dance Group and the Evangelistic Faith Church Mime Group.  She loves hip-hop best, though her school group does mostly contemporary dance, leaving hip-hop practice for home. 

Tehya also enjoys the art form of mime dance, and believes mime enhances dance performances by using facial features and gestures to tell a story, making it even more dramatic.  Tehya said she spends about eight hours a week practicing dance for both groups and is always learning new skills and techniques.

Tehya has performed at church, school, and community events. In April 2012, Tehya danced at the Sandy Point Annual Black-San-Bang-A-Lange cultural event and at the Basseterre High School Queen Show.  In 2010, as part of the Majorettes Troupe representing Sandy Point, she and others from her community danced at Carnival.

Tehya is also focused on academics and has been on the Charles E. Mills Secondary School Honor Roll every year.  Representing her school with a classmate, the girls won first place in the 2011 Saint Christopher’s Air and Seaport Authority Quiz Competition. 

Tehya is a school leader and has been class monitor each year of high school, keeping students in order when the teacher is out of the classroom.  “I enjoy the responsibility,” she said.  “The kids are all my friends and they listen to me.  It’s not a hard job.”

Tehya enjoys athletics and competes in Charles E. Mills Secondary School Sports Day in three events: the 4x400m relay, 4x100m relay, and the 400m.  In the 2012 Sports Day, both relay teams placed second and third respectively.  Tehya is also a member of the Charles E. Mills Cheerleading Squad and has competed with her team at the Interschool Cheerleading Competition, placing second for the past two years.

Tehya plays steel pan too. As a member of the Sandy Point Sparks Steel Pan group for three years, Tehya has played for the Charles E. Mills Speech Day, and for Panorama, the all-secondary school competition, where her group placed third in 2011.

Tehya understands the importance of community service.  As part of the Evangelistic Faith Church Youth Group she visits people in the community who are in need, and offers both her support and assistance.  Tehya also participated with the Youth Volunteer Corps at their 2012 Bay Front Clean-Up and is looking forward to being a member of that group as a Remarkable Teen. 

 Tehya plans to attend university in Canada where she will pursue a career in law or medicine.

Tehya Fleming is a 15-year old fifth form student at Charles E. Mills Secondary School.  She is being recognized as a Remarkable Teen in the category of Dance.

CHRISTIAN NATHANIEL ~ MUSIC

For most teens, music is considered a hobby, or even a medium of recreation, but for Christian Nathaniel, music is life.  Discovering the antique piano in his grandparents’ home at the age of two, Christian began his journey as a musician.

Christian is a multi-instrumentalist: playing piano, fife, drums, keyboard, guitar, steel pan, recorder, and organ.  He is also a talented singer.  

Christian comes from a family of musical talents: his father Nathaniel is a noted pianist, his grandfather Samuel plays the steel pan, his mother Aslyn and grandmother Ellinitta both sing.

Christian is enrolled at the Hulda Lawrence School of Music and has received several Merits and Distinctions from the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music: Piano Exams.  In April 2012, Christian completed his basic musical studies passing grade 8 Level.  He plans to participate in the Caribbean Examinations Council Music Exams next year at the advanced level. 

Christian is currently the official organist for the Zion, Bethesda, and New Dawn Moravian Churches.  He has served as guest organist in other churches both locally and internationally, and at community events such as the National Independence Day Service, and other dignitary and public affairs.  Christian accompanies choral groups as well, including the Moravian Conference Choir, Zion Moravian Junior, Youth and Senior Choirs, Boys Brigade Singers, Teen Challenge Club Band, and the St. Kitts and Nevis Independence Choir.  Christian is a member of the Basseterre High School Symphonic Orchestra, the Teen Challenge Club Band, and the SugaStix Steel Orchestra.

Christian also has a passion for dance and drama.  He is part of his church dance team and the Basseterre High School Storm Cheerleading Squad.  In addition to directing and acting, Christian writes his own dramas and musicals.

Christian uses his talent to give back to the community.  As a newly registered member of Project YEDA (Youth Empower Development through Arts and Entertainment), Christian participates in planning and organizing fundraisers for local charities and community causes.  He also serves as a leader and music teacher at his church’s three-week summer camp, “Zion Youth Fest”, and participates in community service projects through his membership in Boys Brigade.

Christian plans to continue his musical education at the Royal Academy of Music in London, England.  His dream career is to build, manage, and operate a Performing Arts School in St. Kitts.

Christian Nathaniel is a 15-year old fourth form student at Basseterre High School.  He is being recognized as a Remarkable Teen in the category of Music.



SASHA HERBERT ~ ART

Growing up, Sasha Herbert knew that she did not want to be a person with a typical career dream of becoming a doctor, lawyer, accountant, shopkeeper, or stay at home mom; she wanted to follow a different path, something creative, something bold.  Sasha has always loved art and dreamed of becoming an artist one day.  And she is well on her way!

In 2009, Sasha entered a logo and slogan contest sponsored by the Federal National Development Bank Credit Union.  Her logo was selected and is still being used by the bank as their official logo.  Sasha also won $1000 in prize money for her entry: $500 for Basseterre High School and $500 for her personal use.

Again in 2009, Sasha entered an art contest sponsored by the Marriott.  Organizers of the contest wanted to find the nation’s best young artists portraying the theme, “What St. Kitts Means to Me”.   Sasha’s submission won first place in the Under 16 Senior Division for a beautiful piece displaying a sunset from one of the St. Kitts peaks. The picture can still be viewed at the Marriott’s Hall of Fame.

In 2009, 2010, and 2012, Sasha’s art was selected again; this time as a winner of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association local art competition.  Her pieces denoting ways to protect the environment won second place in 2009, first place in 2010, with award placements for 2012 still pending.

Most recently Sasha’s art was on exhibit for five days at the CXC Art Exhibition at Porte Zante. 

Sasha was the only student in St. Kitts to receive a CXC Distinction in Art in 2012.

When learning that she was a recipient of the Remarkable Teen award for 2012, Sasha said, “Most of my passion is channeled through ‘art’, and for me to be recognized as a Remarkable Teen in this category fills me with joy.  Art is everything I am.”

A merit award winner for “Most Outstanding Performance” at Basseterre High School in 2012, Sasha was also Captain of the school’s netball team and a recipient of the TDC Scholarship program.

Sasha Herbert is 17-year old recent graduate of Basseterre High School.  She currently attends Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College and is enrolled in the general studies division.  Sasha is being recognized as a Remarkable Teen in the category of Art.

WARREN HAZEL ~ PERFORMING ARTIST

Warren Hazel is both an artist and a musician. A talented young man with an infectious spirit, he has been playing piano and electric guitar since he was eight years old.   “Music like many other arts is not something that can be held back,” he said. “It comes from my soul, and when I connect with my audience, I want it to speak to their soul too.  Music is my passion.”

Warren credits his guitar teacher, Stanley Edwards Jr., with helping him to find his musical voice, and to translate his passion into melodies and rhythms that will both entertain and stir emotion.

Warren has played scores of performances throughout his career, both nationally and internationally, traveling to Tortola in 2010 to play for Camp Abraham, a Christian choir from St. Kitts.  Warren has played the National Anthem for the 2011 Verchilds Queen Show, and at the 2012 graduations for Tyrell Williams Primary School and Verchilds Secondary School.

Warren is not a member of a regular band, but instead plays with many groups around the island.  “I’m a roadrunner,” he said. “Whenever someone calls and asks me to play with them, I do it.”

Warren is a generous musician too, volunteering his time to play for Sunday services at Grace Gospel Hall, school assemblies, and other community events.  He also works at Fruit Loops Studio in St. Kitts, helping lay R&B and Hip-Hop tracks.

Warren enjoys athletics, especially running, and has competed in the 100m, 200m, and 400m events as a member of the Verchilds Secondary School Track Team, 2008 St. Kitts and Nevis National Team, and the 2010 Leeward Team.  Warren placed second in the 400m U17 Boys category at the 2012 Interschool Competition.

Warren’s favorite quote comes from his role model, Wayne Gretzky: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”  Warren takes his life philosophy from this quote, embracing every opportunity that comes his way, and he wants to inspire other young people to do the same.  Warren hopes the recognition he is receiving as a Remarkable Teen will encourage others to find their passion and have faith in their dreams.

Warren’s career goal is to study science and become a physician.

Warren Hazel is a 16-year old fifth form student at Verchilds High School.  He is being honored as a Remarkable Teen in the category of Performing Artist.