San Juan East Side Symphony has retained its title as the Petrotrin National Single Pan Band champion for the fifth consecutive year. The San Juan-based steelband maintained its lead through the various stages of the competition to romp away with $200,000 and the Pan Trinbago challenge trophy which incidentally they will keep as they have won the title on three successive occasions.
Playing the Duvonne Stewart arrangement of Ronnie Mc Intosh’s Shakin It, the band amassed 286 points, five more than its closest rivals Trinidad East Side Symphony and Marsicans (tied). Each gained 281 points.
The grand finals saw a combined total of 29 steelbands at Skinner Park, San Fernando, in a marathon session which ended in the wee hours of the morning. Adjudicators in the Single Pan Band category were Kenrick Noel, Vorbin Cordice, Tommy Critchlow, Joanna Shortt, Bernadette Roberts and Hugh Borde.
The second category saw defending champion Super Novas being dethroned by Arima Golden Symphony. The Arima band captured the top berth with their rendition of Ah Feeling arranged by Terrance BJ Marcelle which garnered 283 points, while Super Novas settled for second place with 280 points with Dr Samaroo arranged by Amrit Samaroo.
Joslynne Sealey, Lorna Conyette, Sherry-Ann Saunders, Lennox London, Junior Howell and Audley Timothy officiated at the Small Conventional Bands. This year Pan Trinbago celebrated the pannists with the theme Pan In Ecstasy…Reaching for the Stars. Finals for medium and large conventional orchestras are scheduled for tonight, Saturday, at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.
results
Single Pan:
Band Song Score
1 San Juan East Side Symphony Shakin It 286
2.Trinidad East Side Symphony Fire Coming Down 281
2. Marsicans Long Time 281
4. T&T Fire Services Fever 280
5. Scorpion Pan Reflections Long Time 279
6. Gonzales Sheikers Too Real 275
7. Chord Masters No Wuk For Carnival 275
8. Trinidad Nostalgic Ooh La La 274
8. Shades In Steel Ah Want It 274
10. T&T Defence Force This Party Is It 272
11. La Famille United Unknown Band 269
11. Pan Jammers Chutney Bacchanal 269
11. Scrunters Pan Groove Symptoms 269
14 La Creole Pan Groove Unknown Band 268
15. Curepe Polyphonics Sweet Pan 267
16 Uni Stars Rain Melody 266
16. Hope Pan Groovers Nah Do Dat 266
16. City Sun Valley All Night Tonight 266
16. New Vision 8 Ben Lion 266
Small Conventional Bands:
Band Song Score
1 Arima Golden Symphony Ah Feeling 283
2 Super Novas Dr Samaroo 280
3. Crescendoes Musical The Hammer 271
4. Laventille Serenaders Chords 270
5. Golden Hands Pan in De Galaxy 269
6. Tornadoes Ka Ka Roach 268
7. New Generation Bees’ Melody 266
7. Moods Don’t Stop This Party 266
9. Our Boys Ah Feeling 264
10. Longdenville Claytones Free Up 261