Global - In the end there could be, only three. Winners, that is - out of the thirty steel orchestras in three categories (Primary Schools, Secondary Schools and Non-Schools), which played their hearts out for judges in the 2014 edition of the National Junior Panorama at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.
Under the lights of the Grand Stand, the sun had already set as the final results were being announced. Indeed the “happiest panists alive” at that time were probably the players of Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra, who, with their performance of Machel Montano’s popular “Happiest Man Alive,” trumped their seven co-competitors in the Non-Schools category. The exuberance displayed while the band competed, was exceeded only by the jubilation shown as the players ran on to the stage with shrieks of joy when they won. Coming in second place and celebrating almost as much were members of Invaders Youth Steel Orchestra who happily hoisted arranger Jamal “Meck Meck” Gibbs on their shoulders.
Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra had taken the stage with the full complement allowed—sixty-five players—all aged seven through twenty-one. With ten members less, but with just as full a sound, Invaders Youth Steel Orchestra’s age-group mirrored that of Renegades Youth.
The surprise placing in the category came with the relegation of the defending champions Success Stars Pan Sounds to sixth place despite a very strong performance. The group had been seeking a fourth consecutive title having won in 2013, 2012 and 2011, and had returned with the previously winning formula, of playing an original composition both penned and performed by arranger Mickiel Gabriel on each of those occasions. Gabriel was very proud of the steel orchestra’s accomplishments and the opportunity to share their talents. “We dedicated this performance to our community of Laventille, because we wanted to show everybody that good things come out of Laventille, so our entire performance was dedicated to our community” declared Gabriel firmly.
Winning QRC/Providence Steel Orchestra members with their trophy
For QRC/Providence in the Secondary School Category—utilizing instruments graciously loaned to them by Pandemonium Steel Orchestra—it was an entire series of “firsts.” The band won their category; they played in first position; it was the first time this collaboration had come about for the Junior Panorama, that of Queen’s Royal College (QRC) and Providence Girls, and by default the first time that the band worked with arranger Koreece Graham. And victory belonged to the QRC/Providence Steel Orchestra even after judges had heard the nine other orchestras which followed in their wake. And despite having the category’s top score coming into the competition, St. Francois Girls’ Steel Orchestra which won the Secondary School Category in 2013 and 2012 had to settle for fourth place this year.
There was an upset as well in the Primary School Category which was first up in the proceedings in the morning, where the band which had a ‘lock’ on first place for at least three years—St. Margaret’s Boys A.C. Steel Orchestra—was dethroned, instead settling in at third place, behind second-placed St. Mary’s Government Steel Orchestra and eventual winners St. Paul’s Boys A.C. School Steel Orchestra; the latter played the Blue Boy classic “Soca Baptiste” arranged by Curtis Jones.
Adjudicators for the day’s Junior Panorama competitions were Maureen Clement, Avis Bruce, Dexter Assoon and Vanessa Headley (Primary School category), with Cuthbert Matthew, Malcolm Boyce, Kareem Brown and Victor Prescod (Secondary School category), and Barry Mannette and Nigel Diaz (Non-School category). This year’s honorees were Ian “Teddy” Belgrave (posthumous) and Salmon Cupid.
Primary Schools |
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|
Results |
Score |
School Band |
Selection |
Arranger |
| 1st |
264 |
St. Paul’s Boys A.C. School |
Soca Baptiste “Blue Boy” Austin Lyons |
Curtis Jones |
| 2nd |
257 |
St. Mary’s Government |
Magic Drum Kernel Roberts Len “Boogsie” Sharpe |
|
| 3rd |
256 |
St. Margaret’s Boys A.C. |
Differentology Bunji Garlin Ian Alvarez |
|
| 4th |
248 |
Febeau Gov’t. Primary Pan Giants Steel Orchestra | Play
The Music KES The Band |
Quacy Ward; Devon James |
| 5th |
246 |
Malabar R.C. Steel Orchestra |
Spankin’ - A Tribute Austin “Super Blue” Lyons Austin Lyons |
|
| 6th |
241 |
Fifth Company Baptist Rising Stars | The
Hammer David Rudder Pelham Goddard; David Rudder |
|
| 7th |
236 |
Pres2 All Stars |
Curry Tabanca “Mighty Trini” Winsford Devine |
|
| 8th |
235 |
Point Fortin A.C. | Play More Local
“Mr. Famous” Junior Noel; Prestan Andries |
Damyon Alexander |
| 9th |
230 |
Nelson Street Boys R.C. | Free
Up Chris “Tambu” Herbert Christopher Herbert |
Kurt Edwards |
| 10th |
224 |
Princess Town Methodist All Starz |
Nah Leaving Denyse Plummer |
Pete Braxton |
| 11th |
222 |
Diego Martin Boys R.C. | Play
The Music KES The Band |
Alexis Hope |
| 12th |
221 |
Couva Anglican Steel Orchestra |
Symphony In G “Lord Kitchener” Aldwyn Roberts |
David Sylvester |
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