The British Association of Steelbands celebrated their 31st annual National Panorama ‘Champions of Steel’ competition. The inaugural competition in 1978 was won by Paddington Youth Orchestra led by Zack Herbert. Since that time this competition has been held in a number of locations including the Scrubs, Bromyard Yard Ave and Kensal Road.  2008 marked the second year for this competition in the iconic Hyde Park. On the evening of the 23rd August 2008, nine steel orchestras with in excess of 500 musicians who practiced for six to eight weeks played thousands of instruments to capture the coveted title of the ‘2008 Champions of Steel’.  The event was also featured on BBC London 94.9 FM and on line at www.bbc.co.uk/london.

For the first time in the history of this competition a female musical arranger in the likes of Debra Romain participated. It was also Mangrove’s 29th appearance in this competition and CSI Community Steelband’s first.  The 2008 National Panorama competition also saw Annise ‘Halfers’ Hadeed capture his fifteenth title, extending his lead as the ‘World Champion Panorama Arranger’, making this title even more difficult to match or surpass.  It was a well contested Panorama competition with a high level of musicianship, excellent quality of music added to the dexterity, energised delivery and overall commitment from the players. The judges really had their job’s worth.

Full co-operation from the bands ensured that the programme flowed smoothly. The enhanced sound system and larger screen also addressed the concerns of last year’s audience so everyone in attendance was able to fully enjoy the evening’s proceedings. The evening was closed by a speech and plea for support from two young men from the STAR project and a scintillating performance by the Eternity Brass Band, the Champions of the Battle of the Bands from the 2008 Rotterdam Carnival. Everyone is now looking to next year’s event. Pan 4 Life

Results

1. Ebony Steel Orchestra – 275 points
Tune – Ten Commandments of Pan – Jason ‘Peanut’ Isaac and Ingrid De Peiza sung by Tony Prescott
Arranger – Annise ’Halfers’ Hadeed
Tuner – Dudley Dickson

2. Real Steel – 258 points
Tune – Celebration – Mark Loquan sung by Steve Sealey
Arranger – Leroy Clarke
Tuner – Toussaint Clarke

3. Southside Harmonics – 254 points
Tune – Thunder Coming – Edwin Pouchet and Alvin Daniell sung by Roderick ‘Chucky’ Gordon
Arranger – Eustace Benjamin
Tuner JP Blue Boy

4. Metronomes Steel Orchestra – 251 points
Tune – Fiery – Bunji Garlin/Maestro
Arranger – Kyron Akal
Tuner – Grafton Yearwood/Toussaint Clarke

5. Pantasia Steel Band – 244 points
Tune – Thunder Coming – Edwin Pouchet and Alvin Daniell sung by Roderick ‘Chucky’ Gordon
Arranger – Chris Storey
Tuner – Grafton Yearwood

6. Mangrove Steel Band – 240 points
Tune – Thunder Coming – Edwin Pouchet and Alvin Daniell sung by Roderick ‘Chucky’ Gordon
Arranger – Andre White
Tuner – Rudy ‘Two Lef’ Smith, Michael ‘Bubbles’ Oliviere

7. Croydon Steel Orchestra – 234 points
Tune – Ten Commandments of Pan – Jason ‘Peanut’ Isaac and Ingrid De Peiza sung by Tony Prescott
Arranger – Paul Dowie
Tuner – Mark Wilson

8. CSI Steel Band – 231 points
Tune – Hooked – Ken ‘Professor’ Philmore / Destra Garcia
Arranger – Brent Holder
Tuner - Dudley Dickson
 
9. Stardust Steel Orchestra – 223 points
Tune – Hooked – Ken ‘Professor’ Philmore / Destra Garcia
Arranger – Debra Romain
Tuner – Toussaint Clarke

Judges
Frank Rollock
Nestor Sullivan
June Ifill- Bacchus
David Waddell
Gerald Forsythe
Adjudicator – Stephan Phillip