Soloists and Ensembles move on to ‘Pan Is Beautiful XII’ finals

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Eight soloists and six ensembles have been chosen to move forward to the Grand Finals of the Trinidad & Tobago Steelband Music Festival of Pan is Beautiful XII at NAPA (National Academy of the Performing Arts), Port-of-Spain on Friday 8^th November 2013.

The finalists were selected from among twenty-one and ten competitors in the respective solo and ensemble categories over the weekend of the Preliminaries at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain.

Topping the soloist competition with 275 points is the “young” veteran Keisha Codrington of the Codrington Pan Family with her arrangement of the Aldwyn “Lord Kitchener” Roberts-classic “Pan in Harmony.” Also making the cut was sibling Khari Codrington who placed third. His score was 262 for his rendition of another Roberts’ composition “Pan Night and Day” and he tied with Anthony Phillip. Out of the competition now is defending champion Micahi Felician who had to settle for eleventh spot.

Adjudicators were Joanna Shortt, Dr. Anne Marion Osbourne, Joslynne Sealey and Michelle Huggins-Watts.

The results in the Soloist Category are:

Placing	Soloist	Score	Selection
1.	Keisha Codrington	275	Pan In Harmony
2.	Joshua Jabari Bedeau	264	Call Me Hero
3.	Khari Codrington	262	Pan Night and Day
3.	Anthony Phillips	262	La Vie Sur La Paix (Life at La Paix Road)
5.	Megan Taitt	255	Written in August
6.	Kern Sumerville	253	Rainorama
7.	Dachelle Morrison	252	Fiddle Faddle
8.	Avery Attzs	248	Caught In A Loop

9.	Jonathan Emile Grant	247	Mm….Hmm
10.	Ashley Weeks	244	Turkish March
11.	Kristin Murrell	241	Cell O Vibes
11.	Micahi Felician	241	Fantasie Impromptu
13.	Louis Rogers	239	William Tell Overture
14.	Opal Murrell	238	The Little Cloud
14.	Brenton Joseph	238	Tempest
16.	De Jean Cain	236	Carmen Suite No.1 Los Toreadors
17.	Luke Walker	233	Czardas
18.	Tamara Silverthorn	230	Asturias
19.	Wendell Newsam	215	Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
20.	Shenelle George	212	Gypsy Rondo
21.	Steffon Thomas	205	Pan Talent

Four out of the six ensembles making it through to the finals in their category hailed from Trinidad & Tobago’s South/Central region. Bands performed the Test Piece “Respect The Steelband” composed and sung by Leroy Calliste aka “The Black Stalin” along with a ‘Piece of Choice.’ Taking the lead at this stage of competition with 561 points is Golden Hands for their arrangement and execution of “Earth Song” composed by Michael Jackson. Second place went to Fusion Steel with 535 points while Hatters placed fourth, with Longdenville Claytones in fifth position. The other places (third and sixth) were filled by Stryke Stars (defending champs) and Success Stars Gems.

Adjudicators were Lambert Phillip, Joslynne Sealey, Michelle Huggins-Watts and Merle Albino-De Coteau.

The results in the Ensemble Category are:

Placing	Ensemble	Selections	Scores	Cumulative Score
1.	Golden Hands	Respect The Steelband Earth Song	280 281	561
2.	Fusion Steel	Respect The Steelband Pan Patterns	274 261	535
3.	Stryke Stars	Respect The Steelband Journey To The Promised Land	268 264	532
4.	Hatters	Respect The Steelband The Renewal	257 266	523
5.	Longdenville Claytones	Respect The Steelband Tenderly	254 262	516
6.	Success Stars Gems	Respect The Steelband Pan In A Minor	251 251	502

7.	St. Margaret’s Super Stars	Respect The Steelband Nagala Soobax (Interpretation)	244 252	496
8.	Tamana Pioneers	Respect The Steelband Pan Romance	244 251	495
9.	Flabej Now Ensemble	Respect The Steelband Serenade	238 237	475
10.	Tobago Serenity Vibes	Respect The Steelband Finlandia Overture	236 238	474

The draw for playing positions will be held Friday 1^st November at CNMG (Caribbean New Media Group) offices. The Soloist and Ensemble Finals will be held at NAPA, Port-of-Spain, on Friday 8^th November at 7:00 p.m.

Pan Is Beautiful XII continues with the Orchestra Preliminaries on Saturday 19^th and Sunday 20^th October at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain. Starting time is 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. respectively. Admission is TT $100.00.

From the News Desk of Pan Trinbago
Media/Communications