The Saint Lucia National Steel Band Association (SLNA) has revised the format of the 2015 National Panorama Competition.
Compared to previous years where the competing bands would be grouped in the small band or large band categories based on the number of players, this year's format will incorporate all bands competing against each other in one general category, regardless of size.
This year, eight steel pan groups from around Saint Lucia will compete.
The reigning champion, Pantime (supported by Digicel), will defend its title against Courts Babonneau, Fast Cash Pantastic Muzik Steel Orchestra, Laborie Steel Orchestra, Survivors, Busta Emerald Steel Orchestra, Pan Ambassadors and Harmonites.
The Steel Bands Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Pan Trinbago, will be providing trophies, judges and promotion for the competition.
The Panorama Management Committee (PMC) of the SLNA has also formed a subcommittee with the responsibility for producing the steel bands program of activities, which includes a pan session at Mas Market on July 4 at the William Peter Blvd, and an official launch of Panorama on July 11.
The 2015 National Panorama Competition will take place on Friday, July 17 at the Beausejour Cricket Stadium from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. and will also include a Pan Shoot Out (a competition for individual local and regional pannists), displays by Carnival bands and performances by local calypsonians and soca artists.
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It will be interesting to see how this works out. Hopefully it may force some of the smaller bands to increase their members so that they can compete with the larger bands. I know in T&T this might not be possible due to the lack of players, but I can see where they would run in to the problem of players playing for multiple bands too. We'll see how it works out.