2018 Trinidad and Tobago National Steelband Panorama Info - Complete

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - PanOnTheNet/ WhenSteelTalks is Panorama Central!  Complete information on the 2018 season of the Trinidad and Tobago National Panorama, and competitions:  Schedules, Orders of Appearance for preliminary, semi-final and final phases for large, medium and small conventional steel orchestras, and single pan bands; arrangers’ bios, bios of steel orchestras; full results, panyard addresses, history of previous Panoramas, and much more!
see complete information index

Web Posted - Monday February 26, 2018
When Steel Talks

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - There are multiple ways to transmit audio content safely and dependably to powered speakers. So why is the antiquated and physically dangerous practice of using large trucks to transport amplification and speakers to provide musical content in very close proximity to the Carnival participants, still in practice?
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Web Posted - Saturday February 24, 2018
When Steel Talks

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Trinidad and Tobago’s 2018 Calypso Monarch Helon Francis came to the attention of the global steelband community back in 2013 when he vocalized ‘One for Bertie,’ a tribute to the late Pan icon, panist, master tuner and builder, Bertie Marshall. Here, documented by journalist Sharmain Baboolal, are insights into Helon’s thoughts and vision overall, relative to the calypso artform?
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Web Posted - Wednesday February 21, 2018
When Steel Talks

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Not until he was proven to be the gift sent from Siparia to Laventille to bring the lost and wandering band from atop the Hill back to its spiritual moorings that eyes opened to Carlton Alexander.

Brother of Clive Zanda, Carlton, the lesser known of the two, was on the threshold of three score and ten when he gave the iconic Desperadoes Steel Orchestra a Panorama victory that pulled them out of a 15-year slump.
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Web Posted - Wednesday February 21, 2018
When Steel Talks

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Admittedly, she’s a stern disciplinarian.

And truth be told, it does not really matter to Candice Andrews-Brumant that she is the first female captain of a large band that has been crowned Panorama Champions: Renegades 2018.
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Web Posted - Monday February 19, 2018
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

Sweeping changes coming to Carnival

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Chairman of the National Carnival Committee (NCC) Colin Lucas said there would be changes next year to the way TT’s greatest show on earth, Carnival, was showcased.

“Next year Carnival, we are going to push really hard to make more sweeping changes to the product itself because I think few people disagree that the Carnival product had become unexciting and uninviting and just plain unattractive,” he said. Lucas was speaking to the Newsday yesterday on the return of investment for Carnival. He said he could not say what were the primary indicators to track the returns.

The NCC received $147 million to disburse for Carnival 2018, but there were no reports of profits for the country.
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 Trinidad and Tobago Steelband Panorama and Carnival Schedule 2018

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Complete Trinidad and Tobago 2018 National Panorama competition schedule. All rounds - preliminary, semi-finals and finals.
see complete schedule

Web Posted - Monday February 19, 2018
The New Today

Grenada, W.I. -  All is not well within one of Grenada’s top steelbands and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) might be called in to probe alleged financial wrongdoing.

Well-placed sources told THE NEW TODAY that the band that is now engulfed in financial woes is the Melville Street-based Coyaba New Dimension Steel Orchestra.

A senior band member when contacted said that a decision was taken at the Management level to approach the FIU to investigate thousands of dollars that never went into the band’s bank account over the years.

He said that a decision was already taken to remove from the management a top official of the band who is known to be a founding member.
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Web Posted - Sunday February 18, 2018
When Steel Talks

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - He is what I do not now hesitate to call a Master Maestro, among a group of Maestros that have proven their ability and indeed even genius over the years. I am looking forward to 2019 to see how the old bulls will respond to this musical mauling by the young bull that seems to have asserted dominance over the herd. In the 80s and 90s there was a sense that the arrangers were more or less evenly matched. Now I’m getting the sense that the old bulls will have nothing to mount a credible challenge to this young bull. That is how far ahead this offering was.

I give credit to Duvone not only in the context of T&T steelband panorama, but as a contribution for the ages, and to the world. This was a challenge to Beethoven, such was the largeness of the musical conception of this young arranger. One can see/hear it in the first 3 seconds. Those initial five notes are a challenge to Beethoven’s 5th symphony opening statement of a musical theme. Play those 3 secs. over and over again, and ask whether Beethoven in his 5th Symphony had anything on Duvone.
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Web Posted - Thursday February 15, 2018
When Steel Talks

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - “I am a Dreamer,” he declared. And he’s got ideas. But, here in Trinidad, Professor Liam Teague does not speak unless spoken to except when he is teaching. You would have to seek knowledge. And it is only then this humble man with an unmatched steelpan performance resume and teaching history would give some insight. Usually stoic and measured, Teague steers clear of controversy. Being in a panyard is not quite a normal experience for him anymore. The greater part of his life is now in the classrooms and the concert halls.

But it has become an annual pilgrimage, a humbling one. 
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Web Posted - Tuesday February 13, 2018
When Steel Talks

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The Charlotte Street band had such a mammoth mission, one that took a hell of a lot of preparation in the dewy nights, that it may have seemed like a never-ending objective; like a dream in a house of horrors with endless rooms.

What came true, though, was the way the band lit up the stage not only with hellish flames but also a nifty reintroduction of Aaron “Voice” St Louis’ ‘Year For Love.’ Music well structured, it was an honest interpretation of Voice’s song.
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 Finals Results for Large Conventional Steel Orchestras - Trinidad & Tobago Panorama - Renegades End 21-Year Title Drought With Arranger Duvone Stewart as 2018 National Panorama Champions

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - It was indeed the ‘Year For Love,’ and the Year for Renegades Steel Orchestra - and the Year of Duvone Stewart as champion arranger. Renegades captured the title of 2018 Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama champions, performing and triumphing from position one in a field of ten. The last time Renegades were Panorama champions was 1997- twenty-one years ago. With a final-night score of 287, Renegades kept its lead from the semi-finals. And on the stage at the Queen’s Park Savannah, the steel orchestra held off the 2017 title holders Trinidad All Stars who were relegated to a two-way tie for 5th place with Silver Stars.
read more, get results

 Finals Results for Medium Conventional Steel Orchestras - Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2018 - Yes They Did! Pan Elders & Arranger Duvone Stewart Made It Five Consecutive Championships

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - And they did it. Pan Elders, together with champion arranger Duvone Stewart racked up their fifth consecutive title in the medium band category of the 2018 Trinidad and Tobago National Panorama. The winning combination was out front from early in the competition, and kept its musical edge straight through to final night at ‘The Big Yard’ on Saturday February 10. With tune of choice ‘Limbo Break’ by “Brigo,” Pan Elders simply did what they have been doing best for years - win..... There was an eleven-point difference between Pan Elders (285) and the second-placed band, Katzenjammers Steel Orchestra (274) from Trinidad’s sister isle of Tobago.
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 Finals Results for Small Conventional Steel Orchestras - Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2018 - Arranger Vanessa Headley Leads Golden Hands Steel Orchestra Straight To The Top!

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Victory! For first-time champions Golden Hands Steel Orchestra in the small conventional band category of the 2018 Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama competition, at the same time doing the country’s South/Central region proud! Led musically by arranger Vanessa Alexandra Headley and performing at position eight out of fourteen, Golden Hands played Headley’s own composition, Trouble.

....With its 2018 triumph and 279 points, Golden Hands Steel Orchestra trounced the other thirteen finalists, including 2017 champions La Horquetta Pan Groove. There was a mere one-point difference between first and second place, and the latter took the second spot in a tie with Laventille Serenaders.
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 Finals Order of Appearance for LARGE Steel Orchestras - Trinidad & Tobago National Steelband Panorama 2018

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The appearance order for the ten large steel orchestras competing in the 2018 Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama is now known. Defending champs Trinidad All Stars will take the stage in fourth position this coming Saturday February 10 at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

Renegades Steel Orchestra which led coming out of the semi-finals will stake its musical claim from position one.
click for order of appearance

 Finals Order of Appearance for Medium Steel Orchestras - Trinidad & Tobago National Steelband Panorama 2018

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Nine medium steel orchestras in Trinidad & Tobago’s 2018 National Panorama competition will attempt to dethrone defending champions Pan Elders. This coming Saturday February 10 they will give it their best musical efforts to prevent Pan Elders from becoming five-time (consecutive) champs.

The medium category steel orchestras precede those in the large category at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain.
click for order of appearance

 Finals Order of Appearance for SMALL Steel Orchestras - Trinidad & Tobago National Steelband Panorama 2018

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - When the 2018 Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama Small Steel Orchestra Finals organized by Pan Trinbago gets underway way 7:00 p.m. local time at Skinner Park in San Fernando, south Trinidad, on Thursday 8 February, defending champion La Horquetta Pan Groove will perform at position 6 in the musical battle, in its effort to retain the title for a second consecutive year.
click for order of appearance

Web Posted - Tuesday February 6, 2018
When Steel Talks

 2018 Junior Panorama Results - Repeat Triumphs in All Categories: Renegades Youth, St. Francois Girls’ & St. Margaret’s Boys’ Steel Orchestras Retain Titles - Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Lather, rinse, repeat - a different year, different song, sometimes the same arranger, but energized and captivating presentations and performances of popular soca tracks. That about sums up the 2018 Junior National and Schools Panorama, featuring some of the brightest, young, up-and-coming steel orchestras in the country. Venue and date were the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad on Sunday February 4.

In the Non-Schools/Elite grouping, champs Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra left a vivid music performance stamp yet again. They took the title for a fifth consecutive time, playing Sokah by popular young composer and performing artist Nailah Blackman. And the music organization held on to their harmonious relationship with arranger Andrew Charles - who has been at the musical helm for each of their five championships - 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and this year, 2018.
read more, see Results

Web Posted - Saturday February 3, 2018
When Steel Talks

Global - I wasn’t at all mesmerized by the sheer beauty of the performances by Renegades, Desperadoes and Phase II in the Panorama Large Band semi-final. I believed it would happen and expected the results from the git-go — the moment I heard (and fully grasped) Voice’s rich counterculture message, a song out of step with the prevailing social norm but at peace with the Gades, Despers and their supporters.

I wondered why Massy Trinidad All Stars (TAS) neglected to form the third side of an equilateral triangle located plumb in the heart of history; of the teething steel band’s fight for rights to jam on the road, even dominance and the strong hold of machismo; where complete mayhem broke out time and again on respective turfs in the surrounding communities: the original Hell Yard dry river digs and Renegades’ and Desperadoes’ pan yards.
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Web Posted - Friday February 2, 2018
When Steel Talks

 2018 Junior/Schools Panorama Finalists Set for February 4 Competition - Trinidad & Tobago National Steelband Panorama

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Pan Trinbago (Youth Arm) in collaboration with Trinidad & Tobago’s Ministry of Education will co-host the National Schools Panorama Finals at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain, on Sunday 4 February 2018. Starting time is 9:00 a.m. and entry is free.

....The finalists in three categories were selected after several days of judging at the competitors’ schools, pan yards and communities throughout the country. Those going forward are Primary School (12) and Secondary School (9), and Elite Group (15).
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Web Posted -  September, 2017
When Steel Talks

New York, USA - Well if you haven’t heard already, New York’s 2017 Panorama Steel Orchestra competition was an epic failure for most. Unless you were the show’s promoters - who got away as bandits in the night - except it was a broad daylight-mugging with everyone watching. Calling the promoters “bandits” is really a description ‘upgrade’ as they have been known as the original Evil Empire to the Brooklyn Steelband community for decades.

So in this regard, let’s cut the crap! And the fake news from those who are spreading alternative facts, about how great New York 2017 Panorama was. In reality it was jacked up.
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Web Posted
When Steel Talks

Global - Within the historical context, a look at the impact of American movies on the naming of early steelbands of Trinidad and Tobago.
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