St Francois Valley Stars took top honours with 277 points, while BATCE and Sapphonic Steel tied for second on 274 points.
It was a prompt 1 pm start with no guarantee that the preliminaries slate would have been wiped clean when the Junior Panorama Under-19 competition got underway yesterday.
With the ground levelled, it was anyone’s call thereafter.
However, BATCE Steel’s preliminary winning version of Retro launched the proceedings with a clear message that the dictum was under threat of defiance.
With an energetic version of Voice’s Too Own Way, St Francois Valley Stars produced one of the highlights of the afternoon, leaving the packed audience on its feet.
Preliminary runners-up, Sapphonic Steel, also stirred the crowd with a jazzed-up version of Jamtown—played by bands four times on the occasion.
It was all smooth sailing under sunny conditions before a near-capacity Grand Stand audience.
Almost all bands chose dramatic openings complete with moko jumbies, orators, confetti and dancers.
Winners St Francois Valley Stars even brought placards reprising the contentious Skinner Park vs Queen’s Park Savannah choice of venue for secondary schools.
School bands, opposed to the Ministry of Education’s choice of Skinner Park on account of late notice and associated costs, populated the first edition of an Under-19 showdown.
By 3.50 pm, San Juan North Stars Steel had taken the stage with Aaron “Voice” St Louis and Kees Dieffenthaller’s Dear Promoter.
The judges had to join with a captivated crowd in the problematic task of judging a thrilling musical encounter.
• 1st – St. Francois Valley Stars (277)
• 2nd – BATCE Steel (274)
• 2nd – Sapphonic Steel (274)
• 4th – BARS of Steel (273)
• 5th – Knights of Steel (270)
• 6th – Legacy Steel Orchestra (269)
• 7th – Symphony of Saints (265)
• 8th – East P.O.S Stars Steel Orchestra (263)
• 9th – San Juan North Stars Steel Orchestra (262)
• 10th – Eldo East “Blue Steel” Orchestra (261)
