Web Posted - Monday
January 19, 2026
When Steel Talks
2026 National Junior Panorama Results - Finals: Invaders
Youth Steel Orchestra and St. Francois Valley Stars take
Championships, Trophies in 19 & Under and 21 & Under Categories
Invaders Youth Steel Orchestra
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
St. Francois Valley Stars and Invaders Youth Steel Orchestra
laid claim to the championship titles and trophies in their
respective categories, in the Trinidad and Tobago 2026 National
Junior Panorama on Sunday January 18. The staging was the
Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain.
see results
Web Posted - Saturday
January 17, 2026
When Steel Talks
Order of Appearance - Primary & Secondary Schools - National
Schools’ Panorama 2026 FINALS
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
There are two categories of competition in the Trinidad and
Tobago 2026 National Schools’ Panorama being held on Monday
January 19. Steel orchestras from Primary and Secondary levels
take the stage in the finals at the Skinner Park Sporting
Facility in San Fernando. This is the order of appearance for
the event which is expected to start at 9:00 a.m. AST (ATLANTIC
STANDARD TIME).
see
order of appearance
Web Posted - Thursday
January 15, 2026
When Steel Talks
National Schools Panorama 2026 - Results - Primary School
Preliminaries - Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
In the primary category preliminaries of the Trinidad and Tobago
2026 National Schools’ Panorama, twelve of thirty-two steel orchestras
qualified for the finals on Monday January 19. They will be
joined by ten secondary school steel orchestras competing in
their own segment. The competition is being held under the aegis of
the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Education.
see
results
Web Posted - Wednesday
January 14, 2026
When Steel Talks
Order of Appearance for Junior Steel Orchestra Finals -
Trinidad and Tobago 2026 National Junior Panorama
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
Ten junior steel orchestras in the 19 and Under age group and
twelve in that of the 21 and Under, take the stage at the
Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain on Sunday January 18.
These finalists made the cut after preliminary rounds in their respective
communities/panyards hailing from the East, South/Central, North and Tobago
regions.
see
order of appearance
Web Posted - Sunday
January 11, 2026
When Steel Talks
Results - Small Steel Orchestra - Finals - Trinidad &
Tobago National Panorama 2026 - Southern Stars and Uptown
Fascinators Steel Orchestras take Title - Another Joint
Championship
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
Scintillating sounds of steel in Trinidad and Tobago’s South
land? Check. Sixteen steel orchestras more than up to the task,
and delivering the musical goods at Skinner Park in San
Fernando? Check....
Playing a Duvone Stewart-arrangement of Let Us Build A Nation
Together - Southern Stars Steel Orchestra (D’ South Band) which
was out front from the preliminary round, maintained its lead
coning out of the semi-finals, and stayed on top for the finals
- going on to share first place with Uptown Fascinators Steel
Orchestra.
see
full results
Web Posted - Thursday
January 8, 2026
When Steel Talks
National Junior Panorama 2026 - ‘21 and Under’ Preliminaries
- Order of Appearance
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
The younger generation of steelpan musicians come together and
feature in steel orchestras in a youth configuration in this 21
and Under category. The grouping is part of the National Junior
Panorama, a segment of the 2026 Trinidad and Tobago National
Panorama season. The same is true for the 19 and Under category.
The preliminary round for both categories starts on Thursday
January 8.
see
order of appearance
Web Posted - Wednesday
January 7, 2026
When Steel Talks
National Junior Panorama 2026 - ‘19 and Under’ Preliminaries
- Order of Appearance
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
The preliminaries for Junior Panorama 2026 as part of the annual
Trinidad and Tobago National Panorama season, get underway
Thursday January 8. There are steel orchestras for a 19 and
Under category with judging taking place in respective
panyards/communities.
see
order of appearance
Web Posted - Tuesday
January 6, 2026
When Steel Talks
Finals: Order of Appearance for SMALL Steel Orchestras -
Trinidad and Tobago National Panorama 2026
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
South-based Fusion Steel led by Darren Sheppard is first up in
final night competition, in the small steel orchestra category
for Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2026. All sixteen
finalists now know their playing positions after the drawing
held by event organizer Pan Trinbago on Tuesday January 6.
Joint defending champions—Golden Hands and New East Side
Dimension steel orchestras—take the stage in positions thirteen
and eleven, respectively.
see
order of appearance
Web Posted -- Monday
December 29, 2025
When Steel Talks
The Mighty Sparrow and Lord Kitchener Reimagined through The
Garvin Blake Quartet
The Garvin Blake Quartet
Brooklyn, New York, USA - On
an evening between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays,
Khalabash Productions gave the New York audience a musical treat
- a heavy dose of history, some unknown facts, education and
entertainment via the Garvin Blake Quartet Presents the Music of Lord
Kitchener & Mighty Sparrow event. The quartet was
Garvin Blake —
steelpan, the legendary
Frankie McIntosh — piano, Calvin Jones — bass,
and Chris Eddleton — drums.
see
more
Web Posted - Friday
December 26, 2025
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday
Alex Cassidy’s proper love for Trinidad and Tobago
As a working musician in the UK, Alex Cassidy performs as both a
pianist and a panist
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I.
- Loving Trinidad and Tobago is almost instinctive for locals.
When that same devotion captures the heart of a foreigner from
his very first encounter, it reveals something truly special
about the soul of our islands. For 24-year-old UK-born content
creator Alex Cassidy, that love was evident from his very first
visit – and with time, it has only deepened.
Cassidy, who now splits his year evenly between Tobago and the UK, has
become a familiar face on TikTok and Instagram, where his videos celebrating
TT life, culture, food and music have attracted a growing global audience.
While content creation may have been unplanned for Cassidy, his connection
to TT runs deep, evidenced by his decision to learn and play the national
instrument, the steelpan.
see
more
Web Posted - Friday
December 26, 2025
The Journal Gazette/Associated Press
Trinidad and Tobago’s steelpan makes a comeback as a new generation
embraces its sound
A percussion instrument created in Trinidad and
Tobago in 1939 is experiencing a revival as a new generation embraces its
vibrant sound
A steelpan player performs during a national band competition in
Port of Spain, Trinidad. The instrument’s bright sound is
attracting new fans at a rapid pace. Women are also now allowed
to play the “pan.”
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, W.I.
- The steelpan, a percussion instrument created in Trinidad and
Tobago in 1939, is making a comeback as a new generation
embraces its bright, melodious sound on stage and on the dance
floor.
Fans say new technology has made the steelpan more accessible –
and affordable – and a growing number of schools in the
twin-island nation are introducing students to its bell-like
chime.
....“That has been changing rapidly,” said
Amrit Samaroo, son of
Jit Samaroo,
a legendary steelpan music arranger, player and composer.
The steelpan – or pan, for short – is “sexy again,” he told The
Associated Press on a recent afternoon as he sat in the living
room of his family’s home surrounded by a piano, a tenor
steelpan and photos of his late father.
Amrit Samaroo, who leads the popular Trinidad and Tobago
Supernovas Steel Orchestra,
has witnessed the demographic change firsthand. He notes that
social media is embracing the instrument, with fans playing
everything from pop songs to reggae on steelpans.
see
more
Web Posted - Friday
December 26, 2025
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday
Pan Trinbago defends steelpan’s value as NGC withdraws sponsorship
NGC chairman Gerald Ramdeen
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
Pan Trinbago has pushed back against comments by National Gas
Company (NGC) chairman Gerald Ramdeen, saying his remarks
undervalue the social, cultural and economic contributions of
steelbands and mischaracterise corporate sponsorship as being
outside the remit of responsible state enterprise operations.
In a statement issued in response to Ramdeen’s comments, the
national organisation representing steelbands said it recognises
that state enterprises must operate responsibly and in the best
interest of the people, but argued that cultural investment is a
core element of corporate social responsibility, not an optional
gesture.
Pan Trinbago
expressed particular concern over NGC’s decision to withdraw
sponsorship simultaneously from three steelbands and from the
organisation itself...
....In response to questions from Newsday, Ramdeen said the
company was not a charity.
see
more
Web Posted - Friday
December 26, 2025
Trinidad Express Newspapers
Grief as Deltones captain Caesar dies
November performance: George Caesar, captain, conductor and drill master of Siparia Deltones, conducting his band at
Fonclaire Steel Orchestra pan theatre, Dottin Street, San Fernando, during a performance last month. Caesar died yesterday
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
The steelband fraternity was plunged into mourning yesterday
with the passing of beloved band captain of the
Siparia Deltones
Steel Orchestra George Caesar. The band announced his passing
via social media.
A post on Facebook read, “With heavy hearts, the management of
Siparia Deltones regrets to announce the passing of our dearly
beloved Band Captain, Conductor and Drill Master, Mr. George
Caesar, who departed this life this morning, December 26, 2025.
....Caesar was also associated with WHYFARM (We Help Youth
Farm), a non-profit organisation based in T&T, seeking to
motivate and educate youths in the field of agriculture as a
response to global food security challenges.
see
more
Web Posted - Wednesday
December 24, 2025
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday
Citing short notice on move to Skinner Park: Some north schools opt out of Schools’ Panorama 2026
A St. Margaret’s Boys Anglican Primary School player keeps his
focus during the 2024 National School’s Panorama at the Queen’s
Park Savannah, Port of Spain
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
Some north schools have opted out of the 2026 Schools’ Panorama
over the short notice given about hosting the event at Skinner
Park, Todd Street, San Fernando.
Newsday understands eight-ten schools have withdrawn from the
competition.
The participants, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the issue
was not with going to the southern venue but rather the timeframe given to
do so as well as the day on which the event is scheduled to be held (January
19).
see
more
Web Posted - Wednesday
December 24, 2025
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday
Stakeholders slam 5-year delay for steelpan coat of arms: Upset over pan
‘disrespect’
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
Pan Trinbago,
the world governing body for the steelpan, has expressed its
“deep disappointment” over the government’s decision to extend
the use of the former coat of arms until January 2, 2031.
The decision, contained in Legal Notice No. 468, has been condemned by
the opposition as secretive, unnecessary, and politically motivated.
In a news release on December 23, Pan Trinbago president
Beverley Ramsey-Moore said the delay contradicts the spirit of unity
shown earlier this year when the
House of Representatives moved to replace the three ships.
see
more
Web Posted - Monday
December 22, 2025
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday
Calls for TTEC New East Side to be disqualified from small band finals
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
Calls have been made for the disqualification of TTEC
New East Side Dimension following the December 20
Panorama
small conventional band semifinal, after the Tobago-based
steelband was unable to perform in its drawn
position of number
five.
The band eventually performed in position number 19 after
experiencing significant travel and accommodation challenges,
arranger Kersh Ramsey
told Newsday on December 21.
see
more
Web Posted - Sunday
December 21, 2025
When Steel Talks
Results - Small Steel Orchestra Semi-Finals - Trinidad &
Tobago National Panorama 2026
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
So, sixteen steel orchestras have been ‘invited’ to the final
musical ‘dance’ that is the Panorama finals in the Small
conventional category. After hours of intense competition on
Saturday December 20, 2025 - remaining bands had to ‘call it a
season’ as they were outshone, musically, by fellow competitors
who are now this season’s finalists. Southern Stars Steel
Orchestra (D’ South Band) is currently perched at the top with
its presentation of ‘Let Us Build A Nation Together’ arranged by
Duvone Stewart.
see
full results
Web Posted -- Saturday
December 20, 2025
When Steel Talks
Eruption Steel Orchestra’s 3rd Annual Christmas
Concert - A Joy to the World, Heart and Soul
Eruption Steel Orchestra performs at its Joy to
the World 2025 Christmas concert
Brooklyn, New York, USA - A
nippy night, but one just suited to the season - Christmas, that
is. The occasion was Eruption Steel Orchestra’s 3rd Annual
Winter Concert & Fundraiser, and on the agenda were the sounds
of steel courtesy the hosts themselves, the music organization
Eruption Steel Orchestra, with invited performing artists
Despers USA Steel Orchestra, Phoenix Steel Orchestra, and the
Victory Music & Dance Company. The musical card included both
Christmas classics and popular fare for the enjoyment of all.
see
more
Web Posted
When Steel Talks
Trinidad and Tobago 2026 Panorama and Carnival
Schedule of Events
Global
- Trinidad and Tobago
Panorama and Carnival Schedule of Events. Info on
the activities for the 2026 steelband music season:
dates, times, judging schedules, preliminaries,
semi-finals and finals competitions, event venues, and
more, as available; data will be updated.
see schedule
When Steel Talks
Facebook got it wrong - Meta World and WST & SteelPan Are Friends Again
Facebook “Likes” sends PanOnTheNet Apology - “We got it
wrong”
Metaverse - Facebook got it wrong. About
three years ago without warning or reason all WST (When Steel Talks) steelpan-related
accounts fell out of favor with the social media giant Facebook now known as
Meta and its aligned consortiums (Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp). Because
WST has all of our material hosted on our own shared servers, this ‘tag’ was
not incurable or as problematic as it could have been. However, it was annoying
to have people seeking critical steelpan music info diverted by Facebook AI
(artificial intelligence).
see more
Web Posted
When Steel Talks
Technology Giant “Google” Celebrates the steelpan instrument via Google
Doodle
Celebrating Steelpan - Illustration by artist Nicholas Huggins
Doodle of steelpan instrument ‘live’ on Google’s web site
Global - On Tuesday July 26, 2022 the
steelpan instrument of Trinidad and Tobago is featured and celebrated on the
site of technology giant “Google” via the famed Google ‘Doodle.’ The ‘Doodle’
is essentially an illustrative change made to the Google corporate logo “to
celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and the lives of famous artists, pioneers,
and scientists” - and more. The doodle is then seen by users all around the
world who access Google’s homepage on that day, and is available thereafter
in the doodle archives.
....Trinidad and Tobago-based artist Nicholas Huggins is the creator of the
illustrative artwork featured in the doodle, while
Etienne Charles is the composer of the accompanying music performed by the
legendary steelpan icon
Len “Boogsie” Sharpe.
see more
