UK NATIONAL STEELBAND PANORAMA 2019 ROUNDUP - CROYDON STEEL ORCHESTRA
Croydon Steel Orchestra is a youth and community steel band based in the London Borough of Croydon, which was set up in 2000. CSO was reformed after their predecessor, Croydon Schools Steel Orchestra folded. The orchestra consists of musicians from two regional area steel bands in Croydon: New Addington and Woodside. The orchestra consists of musicians from two regional area steel bands in Croydon: New Addington and Woodside. The orchestra's musical director is Paul Dowie and he is responsible for the musical arrangements. CSO aims to promote “pan” as a style of music and the steel band as a family of instruments in their own right. CSO also aims to promote the tuition of steel band in schools, enabling as many children as possible the opportunity to learn the art of pan.
CSO has been competing in the UK National Steelband Panorama competition since 2003 (see list below). Paul Dowie, the Founder and Musical Director/Manager of this steel orchestra has certainly created a musical platform for the young people of Croydon and surrounding boroughs to attend, learn, experiment, explore and perform musical renditions in various genres at numerous venues.
Paul continues to inspire his band of youthful, talented and energetic players to achieve their best results at all times. The following arrangers have done the musical arrangements for Croydon in the stated years. In 2009 and 2014 - Arddin Herbert, 2015 and 2016 – David Ijaduola and 2017 – Brent Holder MBE
For 2019 their Panorama band will be made up of seventy players.
Manager: Paul Dowie
Arranger: Paul Dowie
Tuner: Emily Lemmerman
Tune of Choice: Savannah Grass by KES and Jelani ‘Pops’ Shaw.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al1kF4rQO1g
There are six steelbands vying for the title this year, Mangrove – the reigning champions, Ebony, Metronomes, CSO, Pan Nation and Phase One.
The event is hosted by NHC/BAS, and will be held on the 24thAugust 2019 at the Emslie Horiman’s Pleasance Park, Kensal Road, London W10.
The gates open at 6:00p.m. and the competition starts at 7:00p.m.
Tickets are available online @ nhcarnival.org/panorama or from the Tabernacle 35 Powis Square off Portobello Road, London, W11 2AY.
Tickets: £10
Children 16 and under - £3
Free for Under 5s
Please note that tickets increase in price on the day at the gates.
All ticket sales will be passed onto the competing steelbands helping to directly support their presence at the Notting Hill Carnival
CSO’s UK National Steelband Panorama tunes:
2003 – Music in We Blood
2004 – Ah Pay Meh Dues.
2005 – From Beyond
2006 – Good Times
2007 – Band from Space
2008 – Ten Commandments of Pan
2009 – Pan Redemption
2010 – Tell Dem
2011 - Do Something for Pan
2012 – Gie Dem Tempo
2013 – Sapna
2014 – Spanking
2015 – Like Ah Boss
2016 – Different Me
2017 – Good Morning
2018 – Sweet Fuh Days
2019 – Savannah Grass
