In this edition:

1. Results: Panorama 2002 Semi Finals
2. Pan News: Young Renegades are Junior Panorama Champs, More Panorama Results
   
3. Archived News

1. Results: Panorama 2002 Semi-Finals

Dubbed the Savannah Party, the 33-band playoff started just 40 minutes late but stretched for some 13 hours. Officials of reigning champion Exodus were taken aback by not being marked although the band performed for the judges. They were not required to but simply maintained a tradition of coming to the playoff, where judges' remarks served as guidance for the final round.

Having survived two attempts by excluded bands to stop the show through legal maneouvres Pan Trinbago president Patrick Arnold said the day was a success. "We have a lot of things to look at, but after looking at the outcome we are for the most part pleased," he said. "We have taken careful notes for our post-mortem."

It was not the sell-out crowd expected, but the day proceeded incident free, the largest difficulty for patrons supplied by pickpockets who seemed to be out in greater numbers than ever before.

The North Stand passed all tests for safety and security and the Grand Stand sported its new range of executive chairs (replete with cup-holders) in the box section. Downstairs, patrons sang the praises of the National Carnival Commission (NCC) for its mini museum mounted in the concourse.

Onstage, bands set up much more swiftly than at previous editions of the contest, averaging slightly over ten minutes per orchestra change and were disciplined in their movement into the holding bay. Carib Tokyo was the only band playing out of agreed position, having to switch with another orchestra after a swarm of bees attacked some of its pannists.

For Curepe Scherzando, their horror came well after performance time. On returning to their panyard, a veteran player collapsed and died. Known as Agard, the pannists sat out this season due to illness but came out to support his band on Sunday and went back with the players and instruments to Curepe, where he died.

In the sum, the Savannah Party scored, although there were still those lamenting the change from nationwide preliminaries being held at venues in each region over a period of five days and nights.

The music also improved in overall quality. At the end, just 26 points separated topscoring Neal & Massy Trinidad All Stars from InnCogen Pamberi, the last of 11 bands to advance and meet Exodus at next Saturday's final.

Of the 11, five came from the North zone, three from South/Central, two from East and one from Tobago. Exodus is also from the eastern region. Among the 22 bands eliminated is 1998 national champion Nu Tones.

National Panorama Semi-Final Results 2002
Conventional Orchestras

2. Pan News     [back to top]

Young Renegades are Junior Panorama Champs

The son of a renowned pan arranger followed in his father's footsteps yesterday, as he led BP Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra to capture the 2002 National Panorama title.

Amrit Samaroo, the son of Jit Samaroo, who arranges for the band, did a powerful rendition of Preachers "Dulahin" featuring variations in the tempo including a tassa beat, to cop the first prize.

The young Renegades edged out last year's winners, St. Augustine Senior Comprehensive School by four points.

Twelve bands competed for the title at the competition, held at Queen's Park Savannah yesterday.

Despite a small crowd trickling in at midday, the 12 bands gave rousing performances, with Preacher's song being played six times.

St. Augustine placed second with Natalie Yorke's "Do What You want" arranged by Sean Thomas.

The bands were well received by the crowd with one onlooker stating "they could send the junior bands to play in Panorama instead."

The Talented youngsters created quite an impression on the foreigners who kept up with the rhythm waving, swinging their rags, and swaying to the music.

More Panorama Results

North Zone Preliminaries
Single Pan Bands

North Zone Preliminaries
Conventional Bands

North Region Pan Trinbago
North Zone Finals - MERCHANT TUNE
Conventional Bands

North Region Pan Trinbago
North Zone Finals - MERCHANT TUNE
Single Bands

North Region Pan Trinbago
North Zone Finals - PANORAMA TUNE
Conventional Bands

North Region Pan Trinbago
North Zone Finals - PANORAMA TUNE
Single Bands

5. Archived News     [back to top]

December 2001 [opens in a new window]
November 2001 [opens in a new window]
October 2001 [opens in a new window]
August 2001 [opens in a new window]
June 2001 [opens in a new window]
May 2001 [opens in a new window]
March 2001 [opens in a new window]