Semi Finals Results for Large Conventional Steel Orchestras - Trinidad & Tobago National Steelband Panorama 2017
Update: Full RESULTS Summary
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - After an extremely long, eighteen-hour (yes, no mistake there) musical marathon on Sunday February 12 which hosted a total of fifty-eight bands in three categories of small, medium and large conventional steel orchestras - the large band participants came to know which of them would vie for the championship in their respective category come Saturday 25 February. The semi-finals began after 9:30 a.m. and ended the following morning - after 3:00 on Monday February 13. In less than two weeks, they join fifteen medium bands at the same venue - the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain.
As transpired in the medium category, a tie changed the number of bands through to the finals. Skiffle and Starlift steel orchestras both clinched the tenth spot with 266 points, meaning eleven bands compete for the championship title. 2016 winners Desperadoes Steel Orchestra came out ahead by one point - 282, with Trinidad All Stars hanging in determinedly by scoring 281. Expect the musical battle to be fierce among the competitors.
The three steel orchestras having to hang up their musical gloves for Panorama 2017 include birdsong, Fonclaire and La Brea Nightingales. Despite putting on strong performances, the judges made the call, and they were not on the list. Mia Gormandy took the stage as arranger for birdsong steel orchestra which changed arrangers for 2017. This was her first Panorama outing as an arranger, and with a large steel orchestra at that. Ms. Gormandy delivered a very competent and noteworthy vision of the band’s tune of choice. Also making a first appearance as arranger was La Brea Nightingales’ Tyrell Marcelle, brother of Terrance “BJ” Marcelle; La Brea Nightingales’ execution of “We Are Conquerors” is one that will be missed at the finals.
Following are the full results for the fourteen Large Steel Orchestra semi-finalists.
Click the following links for the results in the other categories: