Global - After three rounds of intense competition over several weeks, displaying scintillating, sometimes creative performances - Trinidad & Tobago′s own Keishaun Julien vanquished his nine musical contenders on this May 22 PanoGrama 2021 final night. All were in quest of copping that top spot which, according to the event organizers, netted the 2021 PanoGrama champion steelpan musician a prize package worth about USD $6,000.00 in total. This includes USD $1,000.00 in cash, an all-expenses-paid trip to Canada to perform with Sons of Steel, a private virtual session with world-renowned panist Victor Provost, an Augustus Peters Steelpans Chrome Low C Tenor Pan Package - plus the appearance fee.
Utilizing a tenor instrument minted by the legendary Bertram “Birch” Kelman and tuned by the illustrious Augustus Peters - in the role of a musical meteorologist, Keishaun delivered a forecast that proved accurate. Appearing in position seven he gave notice that a musical storm was about to open up, complete with a ʽweather alert′ as the setting, in the form of his delivery of Ken “Professor” Philmore′s ʽPan By Storm.′ As he dropped his musical melodies, the weather advisory ran humorously behind him, warning that he intended his nine fellow competitors to be his storm′s “victims,” with one survivor - Keishaun himself. And so it was!!!
Following in his wake was defending champion Earl Brooks, Jr, who kept it smooth and deliberate with The Stylistics classic ʽPeople Make The World Go Round.′ It merited him fourth overall in the finals.
Flying the flag of France Mathieu Borgne, who had led in the preliminary and semi-final rounds, had to relinquish his lead and dropped to fifth place.
Snagging runner-up status was Dejean Cain, also a proud ʽson of the soil′ of Trinidad & Tobago, whose presentation unfolded in the final slot of the evening. He served up Gloria Estefan′s ʽConga′ - complete with congas, and in so doing claimed the second prize of USD $800.00 and a virtual one-on-one session with panist Victor Provost, who was one of the judges.
The third prize of USD $500.00 which also includes a session with Provost, went to Tyeesha Alexander, who maintained her placing coming out of the semi-final. For anyone enjoying a balmy evening, depending on which part of the globe one was taking in the online performances, her delivery of Dizzy Gillespie′s ʽA Night In Tunisia′ hit the perfect music spot.
Andre Forde did his island nation of Barbados proud with his polished performance of ʽGive It To Ya′ by Marzville, and came in sixth overall. Hanif Goodridge who was first up in the final competition, set the tone for the evening with his perfectly apt appearance and backdrop of several Caribbean flags to exemplify and fully complement Michel Camilo′s ʽCaribe,′ his tune of choice. He was judged seventh best.
For eighth-placed Charlton Alfonso, it was all about ʽlove′ as he kept that love and musical vibes flowing with Voice′s now-classic soca ʽYear for Love.′ Jamel Cadette′s ʽSeptember′ had music lovers putting on their dancing shoes and taking to the dance floor as he took them back to the late ʽ70s, complete with hair and disco lights.
Under the banner of the USA - David Yundi left no stone unturned, with an ultra beautiful setting for his interpretation of Patrice Robert′s ʽTender,′ which had music lovers feeling the love. Placing tenth, it was no mean feat to make it through to the top ten of the overall stiff competitive field of forty-five participants, who began this year′s PanoGrama competition from the audition phase.
The show which began at 8:00 p.m. AST (Atlantic Standard Time), officially ended the competitive phase at 9:09 p.m., with guest vocal and saxophone appearances prior to the results, delivered by PanoGrama founder and host Nevin Roach. Aundrea Wharton ably assisted as co-host throughout.
The tough decisions were left to the five judges who were on board for the entire 2021 production. Liam Teague, Ojay Richards, Andy Chichester, David ZigE Walcott and Victor Provost took stock of the three stages of performances: the May 7-9 preliminaries, the May 13 semi-final, and this final night. Points from all five judges were retained, with the average result as the final tally for each performer.
PanoGrama’s YouTube (youtube.com/panograma) and Facebook (@pano.grama1) made it possible for Pan and music fans around the world to take in the online performances. Due to technical difficulties beyond their control, Nevin Roach said the final show could not be streamed on the organization′s Instagram (@pano.grama).
And - the people, the online audience, had their “say” as well. Via voting, with all participants under consideration, fan favorites for People′s Choice and Best Dressed are tabulated here:
Results follow, with scores and placements - and meet the Competitors...
PanoGrama 2021 Final RESULTS
| Result/ Score |
Name | Country | Tune of Choice/ Performer |
| 1st – 93.2 pts |
Keishaun Julien | Trinidad/ Tobago |
Pan by Storm (Designer) |
| 2nd – 92.4 pts |
Dejean Cain | Trinidad/ Tobago |
Conga (Gloria Estefan) |
| 3rd – 92.2 pts |
Tyeesha Alexander | Trinidad/ Tobago |
A Night In Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie) |
| 4th – 91.6 pts |
Earl Brooks Jr. | Trinidad/ Tobago |
People Make The World Go Round (The Stylistics) |
| 5th – 89.6 pts |
Mathieu Borgne | France | If It′s Magic (Stevie Wonder) |
| 6th – 89.2 pts |
Andre Forde | Barbados | Give It To Ya (Marzville) |
| 7th – 84.6 pts |
Hanif Goodridge | Trinidad/ Tobago |
Caribe (Michel Camilo) |
| 8th – 77.8 pts |
Charlton Alfonso | Trinidad/ Tobago |
Year for Love (Voice) |
| 9th – 76.4 pts |
Jamel Cadette | Trinidad/ Tobago |
September (Earth Wind & Fire) |
| 10th – 75.8 pts |
David Yundi | USA | Tender (Patrice Roberts) |
People′s Choice (Voted by the people. 2,314 voters
Best Dressed (Voted by the people. 2,094 voters
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