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

Update: Full RESULTS Summary

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,” and precision exacted in part through, as Duvone put it “drill, drill, drill” - Pan Elders simply did what they have been doing best for years - win. And Duvone Stewart has taken this aspect to the next level, also reigning supreme in the large band category, as arranger for Renegades Steel Orchestra. 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.

As is customary, the medium steel orchestras opened the show and preceded the large category in the final showcase of the 2018 Trinidad and Tobago National Panorama season. Keith Diaz president of Pan Trinbago opened with a short prayer just after the national anthem which played promptly at 7:00 p.m. local time. Band number one Arima Angel Harps struck their first notes around 7:08 p.m. The bands moved along fairly quickly, with Pan Elders appearing in position three. A slender and limber Duvone Stewart was spiffy in a glittering yellow top, and was initially briefly “limboing” in a nod to the band’s selection ‘Limbo Break.’ Band members wore silver and white, with white hats.

Potential Symphony which wrapped up its performance around 9:00 p.m. chose red tops, black pants, and captured the audience’s attention when some of the band members lined up, then marched single-file into place behind their instruments. It definitely drew cheers from the audience and focus to their selection, Mighty Gabby’s ‘Government Boots.’ Also notably attired in militarily themed whites were two individuals, who kept the band on their toes as they went through their musical paces.

The first of only two bands representing sister isle Tobago in the finals, Buccooneers Steel Orchestra was accompanied on stage by the singer of their song of choice ‘I Love Being Me.’ The always dapper Michael Osouna aka “Sugar Aloes” was the band’s stylish flagman.

The penultimate medium steel orchestra Curepe Scherzando led musically by Yohan Popwell delivered a funky arrangement of Machel Montano’s and Bunji Garlin’s 2017 hit ‘Buss Head.’ As a four-time winning arranger in his own right with Sonatas Steel Orchestra on the New York pan scene, Popwell was dynamic and well-equipped to work with this type of selection. The stage had been wet by this time from intermittent light showers, but that did not daunt the players one bit, as they ‘threw down’ while dressed in black tops with gold print and white slacks.

Second Tobago band and the final in the medium section, Katzenjammers closed out the category around 10:23 p.m. The orchestra’s musical presentation of Terrance “BJ” Marcelle’s version of Explainer’s classic “Lorraine” included the musicians’ dress portrayals of pilots with white shirts, black pants and black caps. Marcelle is another arranger with much success in the New York arena; he works with Radoes Steel Orchestra, putting that band on the road to three New York Panorama championships - 2016, 2015, 2014. Katzenjammers went on to place second behind eventual winners Pan Elders.

That some pan music lovers on social media have bemoaned the fact not a single one of the eventual ten finalists in the medium category of conventional steel orchestras, had gone with a selection that was considered a “2018” track - ultimately had little impact on final night. This, because, there must be a winner. And in the end that was all that mattered.

Pan Trinbago saluted several honorees for their sterling service related to the steelband art form including Orville London, Ray Holman, Earline Gomez, Allan Gervais and Merle Albino-de Coteau.

Results were delivered after both the medium and large categories concluded.

Below are the full results for the finals for medium conventional steel orchestras.