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Countdown To UK Panorama 2005
UK 2005 NATIONAL PANORAMA COMPETITION

Participants
 

Metronomes Steel Orchestra

The Metronomes Steel Orchestra was formed in 1973. This family based steel band is an established UK steel pan icon. MSO is committed to the principle that all people have the right to equal treatment.  The orchestra has two main principles, to promote the steel pan art form and Carnival culture in the UK and to play a positive role within the community and to encourage musical development and self-confidence for all.  They have had several major achievements, e.g. appearance in ‘Songs of Praise’, winners at the first UK classical steel band music festival, the opening of the Channel Tunnel , BAS Pan Explosion winners in 2000 and 2001, UK National Panorama winners four times, runners up five times and placed third four times to name a few. They are prominent in the UK steelpan fraternity and are at the forefront of steel orchestral music in the UK. They have been away from this competition for one year and their appearance this year will increase the musicality of the competition

 

Manager:                   Eversley ‘Breeze’ Mills

Arranger:                    Ken ‘Professor’ Philmore

Tuners:                       Grafton Yearwood and Toussaint Clarke

Captain:                     Stephenson Moses

Tune:                          Dead or Alive

Pan Yard Address: Meanwhile Gardens, Kensal Road, London W10

Practice Times:          Mon – Fri:  8pm – 11:30pm.  Sun: 4pm - 10pm

 

 


Glissando Steel Orchestra

 

 

Formed in 1978 by Bertrand Parris, Glissando Steel Orchestra is a leading light in the Caribbean community in Britain.  They are proud to be the only steel orchestra that has the first purpose built sound proofed panyard in Britain. They won the first GLC Capital Radio Music Festival in 1983 and went on to capture the title for the next two consecutive years, the only band to achieve this distinction. The Orchestra is recognised as being talented, innovative and highly professional. They achieved second place in the 1997 Panorama competition and captured third place in 1978, 1999, 2000, 2003 and 2004. Glissando celebrates their 27th anniversary this year.

 

Manager:                   Chris Cox

Arranger:                    Rudy ‘Two Lef’ Smith

Tuners:                       Bertrand Parris

Captain:                     Chris Cox

Tune:                          Action

Pan Yard Address: Venture playground, 103a Wornington Road, London, W10 Practice Times:          Mon – Fri: 7pm – 12pm.  Sun: 3pm - 8pm

 

 


Stardust Steel Orchestra

 

Formed in 1983, the orchestra comprises of thirty to fifty players during the Panorama season and reduces to a smaller group for the rest of the year; their players come from local schools and community.  Over the past twenty years, they have appeared at every panorama competition except in 2001 when an unfortunate accident with their float prevented their participation. This year Stardust has attracted an influx of new players through their musical arranger, Brent Holder, who has brought a new life. Stardust has achieved third place in the Notting Hill Panorama in 1986, 1987 and second in 1989. They celebrate their 22nd anniversary this year.

 

Manager:                      Rhonda & Adrian Baptiste

Arranger:                      Brent Holder

Tuner:                           Dudley Dickson

Captain:                       Tara Baptiste and Miles Pascall

Tune:                            From Beyond

Pan Yard Address:       Acton Vale Community Centre, Beech Ave London W3

Practice Times:            Thurs/Fri:  7pm – 10pm

 

 

 


Real Steel Orchestra

 

From an eight-strong outfit in 1991, Real Steel has scaled the heights of professional success. After playing on the road at Notting Hill Carnival for seven years, Real Steel decided to compete in the 2002 Panorama contest for the first time. Its 45-50 players included ex-members of Real Steel and players from other bands in France, London, Thornbury, Bath, Portsmouth, and Swindon. Their rendition of the ‘Bomb’ earned them third place.  In the 2003 they achieved fifth place and fourth in 2004.  They celebrate their 14th anniversary this year.

 

Manager:                      Leroy Clarke

Arranger:                      Leroy Clarke

Tuners:                         Toussaint Clarke

Captains:                      Sebastian Clarke

Tune:                            Action

Pan Yard Address:       The Soundhouse, Miller Way, Estover, Plymouth.

Practice Times:            Tues, Thurs and Sundays:  7pm - 12pm

 


Mangrove Steel Band

 

Mangrove was formed in 1980 by Trinidadians in the Ladbroke Grove area who wanted to keep the music and culture of the Caribbean alive.  Since then the band has gained great success in the Notting Hill Panorama championships over the years, winning on seven occasions and runners up six other times, they are the “Millennium Champions of Steel”.  Being very active in the Notting Hill Carnival has seen them win various prizes from “Best Band on the Road” to “Biggest Band on the Road”.  Mangrove is acclaimed to be the most travelled band in Europe and is the defending Panorama Champions. Mangrove celebrates their 25th anniversary this year.

 

Manager:                   Matthew Phillip

Arranger:                    Kyron Akal

Tuners:                       Toussaint Clarke, Dudley Dickson

Captain:                     Andrew Facey & Jason Lewis

Tune:                          From Beyond

Pan Yard Address:  Unit 2 Mitre Bridge Trading Estate, Mitre Way, London W10                   6AU

                                               

Practice Times:          Sun – Fri:  8pm – 2am

 

 


Ebony Steel Orchestra

 

Ebony, founded in 1968, lays claim to being “Europe’s finest”, have built a reputation for musical excellence both nationally and internationally winning the Notting Hill Panorama thirteen times with nine consecutive wins. In 2000 and 2002, they were crowned the European Champions of the European Steelband Music Festival and placed fourth and third respectively in the World finals held in Trinidad in October 2000/2002. Ebony has been at the forefront of steelband music for the past decade in Britain and runs a successful program for people with disabilities. Ebony celebrates their 37h anniversary this year.

 

Director:                        Pepe Francis

Arranger:                      Anise ‘Haffers’ Hadeed

Tuner:                           Dudley Dickson

Captain:                       Tafrina Dubois

Tune:                            Action

Pan Yard Address:     Unit 39 Baseline Business Studios, Whitchurch Road,      London, W11 4AT

Practice Times:            Mon – Fri   8pm- 11pm

                                                  Sun -  4 – 8 pm 

 


Southside Harmonics Steel Orchestra

 

Formed in 1979, they were formerly called Lambeth Community Youth Steelband, the band recruits its members from schools in the South London Boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark, Croydon and Wandsworth.  They achieved third place in 1994/ 1995 and fourth in 1993/1996 in the Notting Hill Panorama competition.  They won the ‘On the Road’ competition in 1994/1995 whilst placing second in 1992.  They returned to the competition in 2003 after a two-year break and were adjudged 10th in the Panorama. Southside celebrates their 26th anniversary this year.

 

Manager:                   Julian Gibbs

Arranger:                    Eustace Benjamin

Tuner:                         J.P – ‘Blue Boy’

Captain:                     Julian Gibbs

Tune:                          In the Savannah

Pan Yard Address:     Willington Adventure Playground, Willington Road, London SW4

Practice Times:          Wed & Fri:  7pm – 10p.m

 

 


Croydon Steel Orchestra

 

CSO was formed in the summer of 2000 after the Croydon Schools Steel Orchestra folded.  CSO consists of pan musicians from two regional area steel bands in the borough of Croydon namely Addington and Woodside.  They performed at the 2001 BAS Pan Explosion competition celebrating the 50th anniversary of Steelpan in the UK.  In 2002, fifteen players from the band played with the much-acclaimed London All Stars Steel Orchestra at the Notting Hill Panorama, ‘Champions of Steel’ competition.   This valuable experience assisted CSO in capturing seventh position at their first Panorama competition in 2003 and sixth place in 2004.

 

Manager:                      Paul Dowie

Arrangers:                     Paul Dowie

Tuner:                           Gerald Forsyth

Captain:                       Belinda Stevens

Tune:                            From Beyond

Pan Yard Address:       Fairchildes Primary School, Fairchildes Ave, Croydon.

Practice Times:            Mon – Fri – 4pm – 8:30pm  



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