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Countdown To UK Panorama 2005

UK 2005 NATIONAL PANORAMA COMPETITION

ORDER OF APPEARANCE

 

 ORDER OF APPEARANCE

1.         Metronomes Steel Orchestra

2.         Glissando Steel Orchestra

3.         Stardust Steel Orchestra

4.         Real Steel Orchestra

5.         Mangrove Steel Band

6.         Ebony Steel Band

7.         Southside Harmonics Steel Orchestra

8.         Croydon Steel Orchestra

 

United Kingdom - This year the UK Pan Fraternity celebrates the 27th Anniversary of the Notting Hill Panorama, ‘Champions of Steel’ competition on the 27th August 2005 at the Horniman’s Pleasance, Kensal Road, Ladbroke Grove, London.  In 1964, Rhaune Laslette, the organiser of the inaugural Notting Hill Children’s Neighbourhood Festival invited the Russell Henderson steelband to perform. Steelband music was the first recognised form of music to appear at the Carnival and continues to play an important role in what is now termed the largest street festival in Europe and possibly the world with the exception of Brazil’s Carnival.

 

This annual national steelband musical battle will see top UK bands vying for the coveted title of the Notting Hill, ‘Champions of Steel’ with great enthusiasm and vigour.  The only explosion to be witnessed on the night will be a musical one. Eight steel orchestras with over 500 pan musicians who will practice for hundreds of hours and play thousands of pan instruments on the night.  An explosion of sweet steel pan music ringing out calypso and soca musical renditions from the past as well as the present.  The audience will be in awe when hit by these inspiring musical pieces that will leave them swaying from left to right in unison.  Notting Hill Carnival’s theme for 2005 is UNITY IN DIVERSITY. You only have to take a look around the pan yards to realise that the steel pan in the perfect machinery to promote this theme.

 

Over the past three years the UK pan fraternity has seen an influx of young ‘local’ pan arrangers develop into established musicians and also winning the coveted title. Kyron Akal, the winning arranger of the 2004 competition no doubt will be pulling out all stops to retain the title from Real Steel’s Leroy Clarke who has attained third and fourth positions in this competition over the past three years. This year sees the young and talented Brent Holder taking up the mantle as the musical arranger for the Stardust Steel orchestra. Speaking to Brent who has achieved the WSMF soloist winner in 1996/1998 and runner up in 2000, BAS Pan Explosion soloist and ensemble winners in his musical career to date stated, ‘A Panorama title is my next achievement. In the past I have done some arranging in Trinidad for San Juan All Stars, Crazy Golden Eagles and Solo Pan Knights.’   Paul Dowie of Croydon Steel Orchestra joined this competition in 2003 and has instilled a great sense of competitiveness in his band of young pan musicians.

 

These young arrangers will certainly have a musical war on their hands when they come up against the likes of established pan arrangers Anise ’Haffers’ Hadeed, who holds the world title for winning the most steelband Panorama competitions, world renowned Rudy ‘Two Lef’ Smith and  Ken ‘Professor’ Philmore and established UK arranger, Eustace Benjamin.  

 

Kensal Road will be the venue to be on the evening of the 27th August if you want to experience the wealth of steelband music on offer. The British Association of Steelbands would like to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable Carnival 2005.

 

ORDER OF APPEARANCE

 

1.         Metronomes Steel Orchestra

2.         Glissando Steel Orchestra

3.         Stardust Steel Orchestra

4.         Real Steel Orchestra

5.         Mangrove Steel Band

6.         Ebony Steel Band

7.         Southside Harmonics Steel Orchestra

8.         Croydon Steel Orchestra


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