It felt like returning home after a long vacation to discover that in your absence someone had built you a bigger and better house. That was the popular response tendered by most patrons when asked how they felt about the new Grand and North Stands at Queen's Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, where the semifinals of the 2011 National Steelband Panorama competition were held yesterday. Hosted by Pan Trinbago, the all-day event featured performances by 12 bands each in the small and medium categories, and 16 in the large band category, all vying for places in the final round to be staged at the same venue on Carnival Saturday night.
The Grand Stand is now larger, roomier, and aesthetically pleasing, while the North Stand is built a few feet higher than before. The area dedicated to adjudicators and the media is quite comfortable, with a welcome absence of the line-of-sight problems that plagued the previous facility. First band to have had the privilege of showcasing its wares on the mammoth stage separating the two new stands was San City Steel Orchestra out of Carib Street in San Fernando, doing a Aquil Arrindell/Damian St Claire arrangement of Len "Boogsie" Sharpe's composition Do Something For Pan, vocalised by Sache Alexander. Advertised for a 9 am start, the programme got under way at 10.10 am before a sparse crowd scattered throughout the vast enclosures.
The National Anthem was played on the tenor pan by Kizzy Ann Fabien, of San City Steel Orchestra, after which president of Pan Trinbago Keith Diaz welcomed all to the Panorama. He announced that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was the patron of this year's edition of the event, then offered prayers for a safe and successful staging, noting that the organisation was observing the 75th year of the presence of steelbands in Trinidad and Tobago. Of the 14 bands appearing in the small band category, in which a maximum of 60 players was allowed, seven were from the southland. In addition to San City, the others were Southern Marines, of Marabella; Panasonic Connection, of Victoria Village; Golden Hands, of Independence Avenue; Tornadoes, of Point Fortin; Claytones, of Longdenville; and Old Tech of, Farah Street.
Other orchestras in the category included Fascinators Pan Symphony, Tamana Pioneers, Merry Tones, Codrington Pan Family, St Margaret's Superstars, Arima Golden Symphony, and Tipica. When performances in the category came to an end four hours after the start (2 pm), it was announced that Arima Golden Symphony had placed first with 263 points. The band played In She Rainorama, arranged by Terrance "BJ" Marcelle. Tornadoes (It's Showtime. arranged by Shervon Edwards) and Merry Tones (Ruction, arranged by Seion Gomez) tied for second place with a score of 261 points, while Golden Hands (Endless Vibrations, arranged by Vanessa Alexandra Headley) scored 259 points to claim fourth place. Adjudicators were Sherry-Ann Saunders, Martin Albino, Tommy Crichlow, Michelle Dowich, Marcelline Peters and Kenrick Noel.