The Cliff Anderson Sports Hall was on Sunday evening filled with the joyous melodies of the steel pan as the Republic Bank Mashramani Pan-O-Rama Steel Band Competition was held.
Managing Director of Republic Bank John N Alves expressed how pleased the bank was to sponsor this event for the third consecutive year and said Republic Bank takes pleasure in playing a role in the revival of steel pan in Guyana. He noted that there were much younger players and opined that this will truly have an effect on this year’s Mash celebrations with the theme, “Showcasing our Culture, Sustaining our Pride.”
Minister of Culture Dr Frank Anthony noted that steel pan has been sustained through partnership between the ministry and Republic Bank and that development in steel pan has been obvious. There are programmes across many communities teaching children how to play the steel pan, he informed.
He also stated that in a few months, there will be a Guyana Music School, for which a building has already been erected and instruments, a curriculum and teachers are already available.
Bands from all over Guyana participated in five categories: School Band, Junior Solo, Pan Duet, Senior Solo and Big Band.
Kicking off the competition in the school band category was St Rose’s High Steel Orchestra, followed by Pan Wave Academy which placed 3rd with 244 points. Next in line was Bishops High School, then first place winner North Ruimveldt Multilateral School Steel Orchestra which captivated the audience with its technique. This school had great crowd reaction and earned a stunning 267 points. The fifth performer was Queen’s College followed by Dolphin Secondary which came in at second place with 245 points. All school bands performed just a test piece – “A Poet’s Prayer”.
Michael Smith Jr, the junior soloist category winner, earned himself 213 points. Omari Austin followed in second position with 206 points and third was Rafael Nunes with 199 points.
In the pan duet category, competitors were allowed to perform a single selection of their choice. First place went to Colgrain Whyte and Troy Hunte who performed an original piece by Whyte which earned them 255 points. Coming in at second, Clayton Daniels and Tarrique Mentore earned 254 points. Cary Gillis and Jovanka Williams copped third place with 248 points.
The church band category which saw only two participants got amazing feedback from the audience. St Andrew’s Kirk Youth Steel Band earned 235 points and first position. In second place was Central Assembly of God Church Steel Orchestra with 219 points.
In the senior soloist category first place winner Jovanka Williams finished with 254 points. Second place went to Ray Sparman with 239 points and third place, Clayton Daniels with 230 points.
The curtains came down on Sunday’s event with the big band category, in groups had to perform two compositions. This category saw four entries; first place winners Digicel Park Side Orchestra (538 points); second place, Guyana Police Force (502 points), third place, Pan Groove Steel Orchestra (483 points) and coming in at fourth place, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (472 points) which caused an uproar in the audience as this group had many supporters.
Prizes are to be handed over at a later date.
