Pan youths shineBy JANELLE DE SOUZA and LARA PICKFORD-GORDON Monday, February 8 2010
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St Margaret's Boys' AC School Steel Orchestra won first place at the National Junior Panorama Primary School competition on Sunday....
DEFENDING Primary Schools National Junior Panorama champions, St Margaret’s Boys’ Anglican School of Belmont, once again displayed their pan supremacy and secured not only first place in the finals yesterday at the Queen’s Park Savannah, but also a hat-trick of wins.
The band performed “Magic Drum” sung by Machel Montano, composed by Len “Boogsie” Sharpe and arranged by Sheldon Peters. Although the preceding band, “GMPS Little Bunch and Skiffle Bunch Juniors” played the same song, St Margaret’s rendition was superior.
Dressed in yellow and brown outfits resembling a genie, St Margaret’s placed first with 423 points, just four points in front of second place winners Central Primary Schools Combined Steel Orchestra and 46 points ahead of Febeau Government Primary, who placed third.
Of note is the fact that 2010 is the first time that Central Steel Orchestra, comprising several primary schools in Chaguanas, has entered the Junior Panorama competition. In fact, 90 percent of the students never held pan sticks before they began practising for the competition in December. The band performed “Template” composed by Super Jigga TC and arranged by Curtis Jones. The players danced, jumped, cheered and chanted during and after their performance and the crowd loved it.
Taking first place in the Secondary Schools National Junior Panorama was Woodbrook Secondary School Steelband with 416.5 points. The band performed “Surrender” arranged by Curtis Rennie and composed by Ken “Professor” Philmore and Mark Loquan.
In second place was the BATCE (Bishop Anstey/Trinity College East) with 407 points and in third place, El Dorado East Secondary School with 406 points. Both BATCE and El Dorado performed “Scratch Attack” sung by Edwin Ayoung (Crazy) and composed by Amrit Samaroo. And while El Dorado’s execution of Khion Be-Las’ arrangement was spirited and they were obviously enjoying themselves, it was S Lewis, K Millien and L Salvary’s creative arranging and BATCE players’ energy that earned them the one point which made the difference.
Also performing in the Secondary School category was the Goodwill Industries of the West Indies. This steelband is made up of players with varying levels of disabilities. Their tune of choice was Ethel, sung and composed by Austin Lyons (Superblue) and arranged by Clyde George. However, Trinity College Steel Orchestra did not appear as the band’s arranger Clyde George, was unable to finish the piece because of a family emergency.
In the 21 years and under segment, bp Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra — seeking a hat-trick of wins — was denied by St Augustine Secondary Steel Orchestra. The two bands have in the past both enjoyed the top place in Junior Panorama but the pressure was on the young Renegades to capture their third consecutive title in the 21 years and under category.
They achieved the first hat-trick in 2002, 2003 and 2004 and they won again in 2008 and 2009. Dressed in sailor costumes, the band played last in 11th position and gave a polished performance of their chosen song “Smooth Sailing” by D Original De Fosto.
They took it up a notch with occasional bursts of baby powder and choreographed dance steps. The audience was entertained and showed appreciation with applause. The Renegades ended with a crescendo and a burst of coloured confetti which sent the crowd wild. However, St Augustine was not to be denied and their interpretation of Ken “Professor” Philmore’s “Pan By Storm” included a sample of the popular JW and Blaze hit song “Palance” which evoked claps and shouts of approval from the audience.
In the end the judges gave them first place with 455.5 points and Renegades placed second with 449 points.
Andre Moses, vice-principal of St Augustine Secondary and band manager said the 64 players were motivated to raise the bar of their performance and work very hard knowing that Renegades would be going for their hat-trick. “They executed well on stage so I am very, very happy for them”. They began rehearsing on January 11 and practised daily including weekends.
