St Lucia Panorama 2005

 

The Carnival season is again on stream and plans for 2005 panorama championships are in full swing. Here is some preliminary information which will form the basis for media coverage and interaction throughout the season. We see it as essential that the media be informed about the activities which will be taking place throughout our season so that our interaction be better informed.
 
here is the list of bands taking part in the 2005 Panorama Championships:
 
(1) Caribbean Metals North Stars Steel Orchestra - UNder the leadership of Ivan Smith, this is one of the oldest surviving bands on the island and the Champions for the last two consecutive years of panorama. A victory this year will make North Stars only thr second band (after Diamond Steel) to achieve a three-peat in panorama championships which have been taking place consistently since they were revived in 1998 by Lucius "Goatie" Alexander and others.
 

(2) Cable and Wireless Diamond Steel Orchestra - Under the leadership of Gregory "Shining Emannuel, this band is too comes from the generation of bands as North Stars. Of late Aimran Leary Simmons has been arranging for the Junior panorama as well as National panorama competitions alongside Shining as well as single-handedly. Also famed to have won the most panoramas since 1998.
 

(3) Courts Babonneau Steel Orchestra – This Band falls under the leadership and musical direction of jazz pannist Allison Marquis. This band has been part of panorama since last year under this name and has also taken part in the Junior panorama competition.
 

(4)  Busta Emerald Steel Orchestra - under the leadership of Guy Innocent. This band has consistently taken part in panorama since it was revived in 1998.  Emerald Steel has seen diverse fortunes from panorama.
 

(4) Digicel Pantime Steel Orchestra – The Manager and Band leader Cecil “Tortie” Phulgence started the band in 2001 and has been part of panorama since. Now in its fourth year in panorama championships, the band is employing the arranging skills of Trinidadian born Amrit Samaroo, son of the renowned Jit Samaroo. The bands best performance in panorama has been third place which they acquired twice.
 

(5) Pan Exodus International-This band is leader by Lucius “Goatie” Alexander. This band was due to be a part of last year’s panorama but due to various constraints could not come through. This year however things look marginally more favourable.

Here are some dates of relevance

26th June 2005 – Launch of panorama 2005
15th July 2005 – National Panorama Championships
2nd July 2005 – Launching of Digicel Pantime Steel Orchestra
10th July 2005 – joint launching of Caribbean Metals North Stars and Cable and Wireless Diamond Steel Orchestra

Chief Sponsor Panorama 2005 is ECGC Ltd, producers of Carib Pearl Water, Caribbean pearl Rice as well as a number of other products on the Caribbean market.

More information about Panorama and the St.Lucia National Steel Pan Association
Contact Julian “Bull”Calderon
4685256 (w)
2859977(cell)
calderonj2004@yahoo.com
 

Article by: Julian Calderon Submitted on: 6/22/2005
For more information regarding this article then please contact Julian Calderon on robbie@panpodium.com