Antigua & Barbuda Panorama 2025 Results - Hells Gate Steel Orchestra continues its Reign with 24^th Championship - Arranger Khan Cordice notches 11^th Triumph

RESULTS

Antigua & Barbuda, W.I. - Panorama victory was sweet for Hells Gate Steel Orchestra in 2025, and especially so as the music organization is celebrating its eightieth anniversary. Together with resident champion arranger Khan Cordice, who now has his eleventh Panorama title with Hells Gate - this night is definitely one to remember. Making its Panorama debut, Pandemonium Steel Orchestra led by Dr. Zahra Lake took second place, with Halcyon Steel Orchestra placing third. In addition to trophies, the top three bands received EC $30,000 (circa US $11,100), EC $25,000 (circa US $9,250), and EC $20,000 (circa US $7,400), respectively.

The country’s steelband music-loving community was treated to hours of the sweet sounds of steel at the ARG (Antigua Recreation Grounds) in St. John’s. It was Panorama time once more on Saturday August 3, and eight steel orchestras from the twin-island nation took over the venue dubbed Carnival City for the season.

Panache Steel Orchestra was Panorama co-champion in 2018, and first up on stage on this night; the band got the competitive ball rolling with its first notes at 8:25 p.m. Malik Smith’s arrangement of Burning Flames’ Keep It So was the selection the band of one hundred and ten steelpan musicians delivered with passion, and in musical memory of the three members from the music organization who recently passed.

By 9:00 p.m. eighty players—thirty to forty percent of whom were new—all stepped up and delivered under the Original Steel Orchestra banner, as they performed tune of choice Hurricane arranged by Derel Jarvis.

The third band for the night, Hells Gate Steel Orchestra was also the title defender. Arranger Khan “KC” Cordice started the count just after 9:45 p.m.; the band took Onyan’s Crazyman to competition, but there was nothing crazed about Hells Gate’s musical presentation. Instead, the players skillfully and exuberantly executed Cordice’s arrangement, which was definitively structured. On this night it was simply a continuation of the skill set, that has now garnered this arranger many Panorama championships to date, and taken the band to its twenty-fourth title.

Next up was Harmonites International Steel Orchestra, with eight Panorama championships under its belt, the last being in 2004. Though it was one of the smaller contingents competing this year as it goes through a re-growth cycle, its players were no less enthusiastic when serving up an Aubrey “Lacu” Samuel-arrangement of the Mighty Swallow’s Tumble Down.

It was now the turn of Halcyon Steel Orchestra, themselves no strangers to winning, having done so thirteen times. They looked for the music magic to return them to the top with Burning Flames’ Magician arranged by Lorenzo Hodge. The players all wore magician’s hats, while the band’s conductor in keeping with the theme had his magic wand handy. They finished weaving their animated music spell by 11:00 p.m.

Another ardent presentation included dancers thematically joining band number six, West Side Symphony, which also opted for music by Burning Flames for Panorama. Its tune Bush Dancer was arranged by Oren Peters, and by 11:30 p.m. the group had made its own unique musical mark on the competition after delivering a spirited piece despite their smaller aggregation. 

Penultimate band for the night Gemonites Steel Orchestra playing Move Ah You Mass was the fourth and final band which took the music of Burning Flames to Panorama 2025. Burning Flames, an internationally-renowned, legendary and iconic national treasure celebrates its fortieth anniversary this year and steel orchestras paid homage. Performing Patrick “Stone” Johnson’s arrangement, Gemonites looked to move past all contenders and re-take the championship which was last theirs in 2005.

Band number eight Pandemonium Steel Orchestra made its Panorama debut this year. Led musically by Dr. Zahra Lake, they came to competition with a complement of eighty players, ready to go toe-to-toe in musical battle with fellow participants before them. The newest band in the competition also went with the most recent music choice heard for the night, Claudette Peters’ 2024 soca Mental Day. Pandemonium gave a powerful account of themselves, were very well rehearsed and vibrant, obviously enjoying themselves as they played. In her arrangement, Dr. Lake stated the melody of the selection very clearly. Pandemonium’s last notes resonated as they brought the show to a close at 12:33 a.m.

The results, coming from the panel of judges which comprised Damion Phillip, Bernadette Rogers and Roger Sardinah, were ready for announcing around 1:10 a.m. As has been the policy for the past few years, only the top three positions were revealed; results for the other competing bands—five on this night—were not given. Hosts for the Panorama broadcast were Gavin Francis, Nubia Williams and Dr. George Roberts.

For pan lovers not able to be at Carnival City in person there was an online viewing option possible through ABS TV (Antigua/Barbuda Broadcasting Services Television). However, overall, live audio via that specific experience left very much to be desired.

Can event organizers please let official photographers know if they continually wander through the steel orchestras performing on stage and stand, or walk directly across in front - that they at least wear dark clothing, not distinctly colored, certainly not unmissable red. For a global viewing audience, professionalism is always acceptable.

Kudos to the steelpan musicians of all ages in the country for turning out for all those nights of practice culminating in this annual thrilling musical showcase; each band left everything on that stage in eight minutes of exhilarating competitive performances. It was a more trying season for some than others, yet they got the job done. And for the communities and pan lovers turning out in their numbers in person, sincere appreciation.

What was another excellent sign? The majority of musicians in the eight steel orchestras reflected many of the younger faces on the steelband music scene and they brought their signature energy; and while the veterans were still along and actively participating, seen on stage in several instances - the “enthusiasm,” the verve the young players continue to deliver augers very well for the steelband art form in Antigua and Barbuda.

Take a bow. Now - onto Panorama 2026.

Following are the results, where provided:

(Click for original LIVE STREAM)

(Panorama images source:  YouTube screen grabs)

Related content:

• Antigua & Barbuda 2025 Panorama Live stream
• Antigua & Barbuda 2025 Order of Appearance
• Antigua & Barbuda Panorama 2024 Results
• Antigua & Barbuda Panorama Champions
• The Story of Pan in Antigua
• A brief history on Antigua’s Oldest Steelband, Hells Gate Steel Orchestra

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