Results - Small Conventional Steel Orchestra Semi-Finals - Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2023

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Overcast skies and periodic rain did not put a damper or a stop to the performances of small steel orchestras during the January 7 semi-finals in the Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2023. The first notes in the competition were struck at 4:13 p.m. local time with Fascinators Pan Symphony playing Long Time arranged by Amrit Samaroo. The band would be one of those making the final cut scoring 272 and placing fourth overall. Uptown Fascinators from sister isle Tobago are determined to hold on to their title, through to the finals after coming out on top with 277 points after this round.

Interestingly, the number of finalists in the small steel orchestra category has previously been fourteen. However event organizers Pan Trinbago announced at the very semi-finals competition that a change had been made; there would now be sixteen finalists vying for the small steel orchestra championship at the Saturday January 14 event at the Queen’s Park Savannah.

Bands moved on and off the designated stage section, with Tokyo Steel Orchestra appearing fifteenth for the night and ending at 8:36 p.m. They made way for Fusion Steel to kick off what was the second half of competition with Darren Sheppard’s arrangement of By Any Means.

The panel of six judges - Joanna Short, Joanna Ragbir, Kenrick Noel, Lorna Conyette, Michelle Dowrich and Dr. Roger Henry - tasked with deciding which orchestras were best overall in this phase, took a short break after Southern Stars Steel Orchestra performed Dr. Len “Boogsie” Sharpe’s arrangement of Out and Bad. Players in band number twenty, La Horquetta Pan Groove, waited patiently to the rear of their instruments until called to take their places after the brief intermission, striking up at 10:15 p.m.

Thirty-nine bands were judged in the preliminaries, resulting in these thirty semi-finalists having their musical ‘say’ in this round. The last competitor Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra putting a definitive cap on the proceedings with Duvone Stewart’s arrangement of Raising Dust, wrapping up at 1:22 a.m. Live streams of the event were available from 360TV and WACK fm.

On Tuesday January 10 there will be the draw for playing positions, and bands and pan fans will know the order of appearance on final night.

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** (Click for Performances as live-streamed)

Following are the full results for the semi-finals competition for Small conventional steel orchestras.

Color Key

East Zone Region

North Zone Region

South/Central
Zone Region

Tobago Region