Steelband Arranger

Amrit Samaroo - Champion Steelband Arranger
WST Pan Photographer

Amrit Samaroo

Amrit Samaroo - Supernovas, Philadelphia Pan Stars (Pennsylvania), ADLIB (New York), Pan Elders, Renegades, Our Boys, Fascinators Pan Symphony, Nu-Tones, Melodians, Pan Glow, Pantime (St. Lucia)
Panorama Championships  
St. Lucia - 2013, 2014, 2015
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Amrit Samaroo is a multi-talented, award-winning steel orchestra Panorama music arranger, songwriter, performing artist, producer and educator. In the preceding years Amrit has penned some of the most memorable steelband music pieces in recent times.

He is also the son of Dr. Jit Samaroo, the former master arranger of world-renowned Renegades Steel Orchestra.


Amrit Samaroo has been arranging on Trinidad and Tobago's national Panorama scene for the 'regular' conventional steel orchestra for a few years.  Originally, he had been a familiar figure within the Junior National Panorama arena, as the customary arranger for Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra, taking them to winner’s row in the past, as well as within the top three.

That scenario changed in 2007 when Amrit began working with Lee Chong’s Pan Glow Steel Orchestra, based in South Trinidad; the orchestra competed in the medium category. However, the outside world had already recognized and employed Amrit Samaroo's talents as a steelband music arranger. He has been the Panorama arranger with St. Lucia’s Pantime Steel Orchestra for years.  In 2006, they took second place honors with a difference of just one-half of a point, and from 2013 through 2015, in his capacity as champion arranger, he led the band in their hat trick achievement.  For 2014 and 2015, he also cast his arranging talents further afield to New York, working with ADLIB Steel Orchestra as their renditions of his arrangements put them in second and third place, respectively, in the annual New York Panorama. 

In 2008 and 2009, Amrit also arranged for Renegades Steel Orchestra, taking over from his father the legendary Dr. Jit Samaroo, reaching the finals of the annual Panorama competition on both occasions.  Melodians Steel Orchestra in the medium band category has also gone to Trinidad & Tobago's National Panorama competition with Amrit since 2010.

Amrit founded his own music organization, Supernovas Steel Orchestra, in 2010, and is its leader and arranger; the band hails from his hometown of Lopinot. They entered competition for the first time in 2012 in the small steel orchestra category, placing second.  In 2013 they rose to third place, ultimately triumphing with the championship title in 2014. Amrit and Supernovas would have to settle once more for second-place honors in 2015.  They also copped that first-runner-up spot for the 2015 International Panorama (International Conference and Panorama - ICP) held in Trinidad and Tobago.

For the 2016 Panorama season, with his eye on the ultimate prize in Pan, Amrit and Supernovas made the leap to the large steel orchestra category, coming in second with just one point separating them from the championship.

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An Exclusive When Steel Talks Interview with Amrit Samaroo




 


 
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