Bishop's High School could take the Trinbago Unified Calypsonian Organisation (TUCO) Junior Calypso Monarch to the sister isle this year. The odds so far are in their favour.

From a line up of 16 competitors named to appear on stage at the finals on Feb 8, Bishop's is one of only three schools to have multiple entrants.

Garve' Sandy, last year's second place winner, is one of them.

Garve' will be looking to fill the spot left vacant by 2009 monarch Megan Waldron, who will not return to defend her title. The second-former, who is a powerful vocalist and experienced performer, will attempt to outshine her schoolmate Cavel Gordon, and Trinidad contenders when she steps on to the stage in position number seven.

The showdown will begin at 10.00 am at the Queen's Park Savannah.

This weekend the young calypsonians will be putting the finishing touches on their stage presentations when they arrive from Tobago in time for rehearsals. All finalists at the schools competition will be backed by the band Cummings and the Wailers.

Of the 16 students making it to the big stage at the Queen's Park Savannah, nine are from secondary schools. Girls make up a large number of those advancing to the last round at the junior level. Which again tips the balance for entrants like Garve'.

Age, however, has not been a factor in winning the judges approval thus far. Nineteen-year-old Aisha Williams of San Juan North Government will have show her lyrical superiority as much her six-year-old competitor Aaron Duncan, if she wants to reign as the 2010 monarch.

All schools are invited to see the best of the calypso art form their peers have to offer.

Bernice Carr, event coordinator at (TUCO), said hopes last year's champion Megan Walrond would be able to return to the competition as a guest performer once her schedule permits. The reigning monarch has been making her presence felt in the soca circuit with songs for the Stars of Tomorrow and Groovy Soca Monarch competitions.

Apart from the Junior Calypso crown, the holder will receive prize money, including $5,000 in cash. No decision has been made on what the other prizes will be given to the top three places.

Performers at this year's competition will give a repeat of their winning renditions at the Brian Lara Promenade at TUCO's Junior Monarch roving tent on Feb 10 from 12 noon.

The order of appearance for Monday's final is as follows:

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