Panorama Steel Pan competition kicks off first leg

Feb 07, 2015 News

First place winners in Pan Duet category, Jovanka Williams and Kellisha Edwards

…finals to continue tomorrow

The first leg of the Panorama Steel Pan competition kicked off at the Theatre Guild, Thursday night with performances in the junior soloist, pan duet, senior soloist and pan jazz categories. Tomorrow (February 8), will mark the second and final day of the competition with the school and large bands categories at the Cliff Anderson Sport Hall.
Winners from Thursday night’s round of the competition included Akeem Pompey, Hanani Lewi and Vjay Sharma who placed first, second and third respectively, in Junior Solo category. While in the Senior Solo category Jovanka Williams took first place, with Detroy Dey and Michael Smith Jr. tying for second.
In the Pan Duet category Jovanka Williams once again copped first together with her partner Kellisha Edwards. The pairs Jamal Johnson and Javier Marks placed second with Ray Sparman and Ryan Lewis taking third position.
The Pan Jazz category saw the Camex Kunjaz Ensemble being first, the Guyana Defence Force Band awarded second and Parkside A placing third.
This year marks the 7th year since the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and Republic Bank have collaborated to make the Panorama Steel Pan competition possible.
During remarks made by the Minister of Culture Dr. Frank Anthony, he commended the “Power to Make a Difference” programme initiated by Republic Bank which has supported the Ministry’s resuscitation efforts with regard to steel pan. The Minister further encouraged the citizens to support the events as the funds gained from them will be used to purchase steel pans for schools.
Marketing Manager of Republic Bank, Michelle Johnson, noted that the organization is pleased to join in Guyana’s 45th Republic Day celebrations. She further emphasized that there has been a noticeable growth in the development of steel pan in Guyana. The Pan Minor programme has especially benefitted Guyanese youth where the instrument has grown in popularity.
Tomorrow, 15 bands will be competing in two categories of five large bands and 10 school bands along with six pan jazz ensembles, six pan duets, five senior soloists and six junior soloists.
Additionally the school band category will be divided into two sub-categories with bands from St. Rose’s High, Lodge, Dolphin, Wismar, Christianburg and West Demerara Secondary Schools, each consisting of 12 players.
The steel pan competition is part of Mashramani activities organized by the Culture Ministry in collaboration with other local agencies.