Global - 31 Conventional Steel Orchestra franchises will vie for the title of 2012 National Panorama Champion across three categories - Large, Medium and Small.
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Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Champs Katzenjammers and "big band" RBC Redemption Soundsetters led by arranger Winston Gordon showed the standard of pan has gone a notch above at the "Big Yard", Queen's Park Savannah, last Sunday.

Opening the Medium Band category in the sweltering afternoon sun, Steel Explosion played a slow version of Terrence BJ Marcelle's "San Fernando Has Spoken" composed by Winston Scarborough. The band placed 14^th scoring 251 points.

One hour later Buccoo Buccooneers of Chance Street opened with a spirited start to their rendition with a long run at the end of the first chorus playing "Vibes" arranged by Seion Gomez and composed by Mark Loquan, Ken Philmore and Destra Garcia.
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Guyana, SA - Steel Pan stalwart Roy Geddes was on Thursday afternoon intercepted at his home by an armed bandit, who assaulted him and robbed him of his jewellery.

According to 72-year-old Geddes, at around 2:00 p.m. he was in the front yard of his Lot 190 Roxanne Burnham Garden home, tending to his flower plants when the lone bandit entered his yard and approached him.

The man, whom he said carried a "big gun", proceeded to gunbutt him in the head twice, during which time he relieved the shocked Geddes of his two gold chains from around his neck. The victim stated that the chains are worth over $100,000.
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Ohio, USA - Attention, pan players, pan fans:  educators and steel band enthusiasts are being reminded to start thinking about the sixth-annual Ohio Valley Festival of Steel.

The 2012 Ohio Valley Festival of Steel will be held May 5 at Steubenville High School with April 9 designated as the registration and fee deadline. The $100 registration fee covers performers and directors. Checks can be made payable to Ohio Valley Festival of Steel and mailed to 111B Frostview Drive, Wintersville, Ohio, 43953-4241.

Last year's festival featured 15 bands from New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

"This year we will gather at Steubenville High School to share in the enjoyment and spirit of your 2012 steel bands. The festival will again feature guest artist Tracy Thornton from High Point, N.C. Tracy always brings fantastic energy to the festival with his improvised solos," said Shelly Irvine, festival founder and coordinator.
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Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Thirty-two Single Pan Bands will face the judges as the National Panorama Single Pan Bands Semi Finals get underway at the Larry Gomes Stadium Car Park, Malabar, Arima in Trinidad, on Saturday 11th February 2012, from 6:00 p.m. Admission is TT $60.00.
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Minnesota, USA - Nine-year-old Mi’ari Scott (above) of Shakopee gets a quick lesson on the steel drum from Tropics Steel Drum Band drummer Norbert Augustíne during an event at the Savage Library Tuesday night.
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Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Forty bands will compete in the National Junior Panorama at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, on Sunday 12^th February 2012 from 8:30 a.m. The competition is staged by the Ministry of Education, Pan in the Classroom Unit, Pan in Schools Coordinating Unit and Pan Trinbago.

....Playing The Original De Fosto's “A Raging Storm” arranged by Mickiel Gabriel, the very proud 2011 Junior Panorama champs in the Non-Schools category were Success Stars Pan Sounds from Laventille.

Unlike their adult counterparts, the performances of the winners and their fellow competitors—who took the stage on February 27 in the 2011 Junior Panorama—appeared under-reported in their own national media, in the country where the Steelpan is the ‘national instrument.’
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Global - In an exclusive interview with When Steel Talks - filmmaker, director and panist Jeston Lett shares his overall views on Pan, Panorama and more...

“Panorama some say has evolved, same for Soca, but I believe we misinterpret this as losing ourselves and identity. When bands can substitute good music with Showmanship, there’s a problem. And I know to this, many would disagree, but I say let the music do the work.” ...Jeston Lett
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Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Sunday’s clash between police and patrons partying at the Northern Greens during the Panorama semi-finals was “an accident waiting to happen”, chairman of the Operations Committee of the National Carnival Commission Brigadier General Carl Alfonso said yesterday.

The Northern Greens area was created for patrons to party hearty amid the atmosphere of the steelband competition at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of- Spain.
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Global - In a Panorama season full of intrigue, surprises and unknown territory rife with land mines and few certainties - we find ourselves in a very special place. It is the morning after the semi-final 2012 Panorama competition. Moreover, it is the moment in this enclave where we, When Steel Talks, are normally busy analyzing and writing about who is in and who is out - who made it and by how much and of course what transpired. This year ironically on the day after the Super Bowl, we will leave that to the Monday morning quarterbacks - the Trinidad and Tobago national papers, pundits and self-appointed Panorama music experts. Hey, we all think we're experts when it comes to Panorama music.

“We will just have to dust off our pants, pick ourselves up off the ground and come back stronger...” ...Desperadoes player
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Global - Trinidad All Stars, Phase II and nine other large steel orchestras move on to final night competition.  Katzenjammers and Buccooneers join eight fellow competitors in the medium category, while  nine small conventional steel orchestras will challenge defending champs Arima Golden Symphony in their quest for 2012 supremacy.
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Trinidad and Tobago -
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Mississippi, USA - From calypso to popular to classical to jazz, Meridian Community College’s Arts & Letters Series concert goers are in for more than a tropical treat when SoMiSPO comes to the McCain Theater on Tuesday.

This University of Southern Mississippi steel pan orchestra concert will begin at 7 p.m.

....Currently a 30-member band, SoMiSPO was founded by Dr. John Wooten as a six piece ensemble, which included a drum set and percussion.
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Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Police used batons and their fists to beat patrons during the 2012 National Panorama semifinals at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain yesterday, after hundreds of pan fans tried to push past barriers because they were blocked from walking between the North Stand and the Greens area.

Around 3.30 p.m. the access entrance to the Greens from the North Stand was blocked, preventing patrons from moving from one area to the other.

This year the Panorama event co-ordinators attempted to separate the Greens party area from the main event on the Big Stage.

This was done because of last year's problems with sound systems and DJs virtually drowning out the sound of the pan performances during the semifinal.
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Global - In an exclusive interview with When Steel Talks - filmmaker, director and panist — Jeston Lett — shares his overall views on Pan, Panorama and more...

“The sound of the pan comes from the soul of our people. As such, it is a spiritual instrument, and that is why it is able to touch people in the way that it does. Few instruments can do that. It is more than a love affair. Pan is Trinbago, and Trinbago is pan.” ...Daryl Joseph
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Global - In an exclusive interview with When Steel Talks - panist and Director of Florida Memorial University Steelband—Dr. Dawn Batson—shares her overall views on Pan, Panorama and more...

“I have also tried to share my belief that music should never be stagnant. Moments of beauty are often created by those willing to stretch (and sometimes burst) the boundaries. That is not to say that complexity is the answer for often the simplest response is the best. The essences I have found and have tried to pass along are respect and truth – to the music and to self.” ...Dr. Dawn Batson
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Global - Pan Trinbago has released the names of the Semi finalists in the Small and Medium Conventional Bands categories.

Eighteen Small and fifteen Medium steel orchestras will join the sixteen Large bands for the National Semi Finals at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, on Sunday February 5, 2012, from 9:00 a.m.
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Global - In an exclusive interview with When Steel Talks -  journalist, panist and former arranger of the renowned Highlanders Steel Orchestra - Les Slater, shares his overall views on Pan, Panorama and more...

“As far as a blessing or a curse, Panorama is probably a bit of both. It certainly is a blessing, having been on this incredible orbit since it began, generating a remarkable intensity within the worldwide pan community. And in Trinidad and Tobago and the Diaspora, as the only pan activity that commands interest among pan people on such a scale, it cannot but be viewed in positive terms.” ...Les Slater
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Global - In an exclusive interview with When Steel Talks, panist, assistant jazz professor, performing and recording artist, Etienne Charles shares his overall thoughts on Panorama - its past, present and future...

“So many people have never set foot in a panyard...why? Because of the stereotype. The steelpan culture is one of the most fascinating subcultures of the Afro-Caribbean experience and should be treated as such. The music is the anthem of the experience, and, on a larger scale it reflects a significant part of our history and artistic growth as a nation. This year we celebrated and mourned, that's what the music will do as well.” ...Etienne Charles
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