Trinidad - The upcoming weekend is full of steelband performances for pan music lovers, including those of the fourteen medium steel orchestras vying for spots in the final night competition, and ultimately, being crowned champion in the medium band category. But before that, they have a date with the judges at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, just before their “big” brethren in the large band category.
Preliminary round competitions were held over four days in the respective designated regions of East, North, South/Central and Tobago in Trinidad and Tobago. Twenty-six medium steel orchestras overall participated in the initial phase, with twelve being eliminated.
Pan Elders Steel Orchestra which topped the category after preliminaries perform in position number two. A musical force to be reckoned with, they are armed with their execution of Duvone Stewart’s arrangement of “Family.” Sound Specialists of Laventille who were medium band champs in 2008, start things off. Defending champions Buccooneers Steel Orchestra from the sister isle of Tobago are in at number seven, while 2011 co-champions Katzenjammers and Valley Harps Steel Orchestras compete at numbers seven and fourteen, playing “Madness” and “Happiest Man Alive,” respectively.
Scheduled start time of the event is 12:00 Noon.
click for the appearance order for the bands.
Replies