The grounds of the National Cultural Centre were ablaze on Sunday 30th March as young panists lit up the stage and filled the air with the sweet and infectious sounds of steel pan music in Junior Panorama 2014.
Six pan groups battled it out, armed with their musical instruments, enthusiasm to win and the secret arsenal, a local choice tune with the inspirational touch of a junior arranger, all in the hopes of capturing the coveted title of Junior Panorama Champions.
Senior Event and Production Officer at CDF, Tyrone Harris says, “The event was very successful with excellent performances from all of the participating groups. We were pleasantly surprised by the newcomers who without a doubt need to be commended. We were however disappointed with the turn-out of the public and now need to return to the drawing board to strategize on ways to make the event more welcoming.”
Keith Diaz, President of Pan Trinbago was full of praise for the young panists. Diaz, presented the band who he felt truly exemplified the spirit of panorama and whose stage performance was most enthused. His band choice would eventually be crowned Junior Panorama Champions.
The young ‘pan sides’ hailed from Micoud, Marigot/Anse la Raye, Marchand/Castries, Balata/Babonneau and Laborie all eagerly looking to dethrone the 2013 champions, Pantime Steel Orchestra of Gros Islet.
When the blazing sun set and the music stopped, the results were as follows:
3rd Place: St. Lucy’s Steel Pan Orchestra (435 points)
2nd Place: Diamond Steel Junior Orchestra (455 points)
1st Place: Caribbean Metals Pantime Steel Orcehstra (481 points)
Steel pan music surfaced in Saint Lucia in 1945 and since then the sound of the steel drum has become an integral part of our culture. The pan represents the voice of the Caribbean Diaspora, a people moving to the beat own drum of steel – their own identity and their own music.
The Cultural Development Foundation (CDF) exists to champion both the business and the celebration of authentic Saint Lucian culture. Our raison d’etre is to inspire and empower our people and our communities to become confident and accomplished ambassadors, delivering Saint Lucia’s compelling creative and cultural proposition to the world.
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