UPDATE #2 - Semis cancelled, all 30 single pan bands move to finals
UPDATE #1 - Competition cancelled until further notice
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The Order of Appearance of the thirty semi-finalists in the Single Pan category of the annual National Panorama organized by Pan Trinbago, is now set, after the draw for playing positions was held on Wednesday November 23. The second phase of competition takes place at the Arima Velodrome in Arima, east Trinidad on Saturday November 26, 2022 beginning 4.00 p.m. There will be more or less a ‘level playing field’ as patrons and judges get to hear the bands compete at one venue on the same evening.
Forty-seven bands from the South/Central, Northern, Tobago and Eastern regions completed the preliminary rounds, each striving for a spot in the semi-finals. Of the two initial entrants hailing from the sister isle Tobago, one - Metro Stars Steel Orchestra - made the cut for the semi-finals.
Pan lovers and judges can expect to hear first from Curepe Polyphonics in position one playing ‘Band from Space’ ’ as arranged by Nigel Diaz. Together with the twenty-nine following bands - which include defending Single Pan co-champions San Juan East Side Symphony and Marsicans Steel Orchestra - they will vie for a spot in the Single Pan Finals on December 3, and ultimately, the title. The former will play twenty-third out of the thirty bands, while Marsicans’ turn is earlier on in seventh spot.
San Juan East Side came out on top in the preliminary results from the panyard judging which unfolded November 11 through 19 at various venues. However a stiff challenge has been mounted by Newtown Playboys led by arranger Duvone Stewart, who left the category years ago after winning eleven titles. “In 2015 I bowed out when I felt I was dominant in the category and thought I had left a benchmark to get them to up their game. At the same time I was leaving the space open for continuation, for arrangers and bands to evolve,” Stewart explained in a recent article by veteran journalist Sharmain Baboolal. He and his band take the stage at number thirteen.
The Order of Appearance for the semi-finalists follows:
Order of Appearance - Single Pan Bands - 2023 Semi-finals |
||
| Order | Single Pan Band | Arranger |
| #1 | Curepe Polyphonics | Nigel Diaz |
| #2 | Scrunters Pan Groove | Alexis “Lecky” Hope |
| #3 | Metro Stars Steel Orchestra | Kersh Ramsey |
| #4 | Trinidad Nostalgic | Amrit Samaroo |
| #5 | Trinidad & Tobago Police Service Steel Orchestra |
Kwame Rodriguez & Esan Smith |
| #6 | Platinum Steel Orchestra | Natasha Joseph |
| #7 | Marsicans Steel Orchestra | Marlon White |
| #8 | Pan Stereonettes | Michael “Bullet” Prudhomme |
| #9 | Pan Elites Steel Orchestra | Triston Marcano |
| #10 | Pan On the Move | Kion Robinson |
| #11 | Blanca 47 | Shaquille “Flogo” Forbes |
| #12 | La Famille United | Arddin Herbert |
| #13 | Newtown Playboys Steel Symphony | Duvone Stewart |
| #14 | Trinidad & Tobago Prison Service Steel Orchestra | Nathaniel “Crix” Flemming |
| #15 | Pan Jammers | Robert Tobitt |
| #16 | Royal Stars Pan Symphony | Kenneth Guppy |
| #17 | La Creole Pan Groove | Jamal Gibbs |
| #18 | Uni Stars | Kareem Brown |
| #19 | Woodbrook Playboyz Steel Orchestra |
Christopher Mungal & Elijah Beckles |
| #20 | Chord Masters | André White |
| #21 | Nu Pioneers Pan Groove | Shaun Marcano |
| #22 | D’ Original Woodbrook Modernaires | Hanif Goodridge |
| #23 | San Juan East Side Symphony | Carlon Harewood |
| #24 | Brimblers | Earl Brooks |
| #25 | Arima All Stars Steel Orchestra | Gillian “Toby” Tobias |
| #26 | Trinidad & Tobago Fire Service Steel Orchestra | Terrance “BJ” Marcelle |
| #27 | Gonzales Sheikers | Keisha Codrington |
| #28 | World Wide Steel Orchestra | Noel “Mico” Skair |
| #29 | San Juan All Stars | Renaldo De Peiza |
| #30 | Stardust Steel Orchestra | Simeon Superville |
