UK NATIONAL JUNIOR STEELBAND PANORAMA 2026 ROUNDUP – ENDURANCE STEEL ORCHESTRA

Aug 18

Aug 18 UK NATIONAL JUNIOR STEELBAND PANORAMA 2026 ROUNDUP – ENDURANCE STEEL ORCHESTRA

Africa, Canada, Caribbean, Europe, France, Global, UK

Founded in July 2009 by teenager Marlon Hibbert at age 17, Endurance Steel Orchestra is a dynamic, non-profit organisation based in South East London. Rooted in community cohesion and youth engagement, it has grown from an initial group of eight musicians into a prominent UK steelpan institution

During the early 2010’s they expanded rapidly across boroughs, engaging local youth through workshops, classes, and public performances. Stanley Halls in South Norwood became a spiritual and sell-out venue for their community concerts.

Alongside their regular performances, they give people the opportunity to express, develop and enrich their musical talent through learning to play the steelpan. They are a professional steel orchestra based in South London and perform regularly at parties, festivals, corporate events and weddings across the UK, and internationally. Some of their notable performances to name a few include:

· The Ends Festival

· London Notting Hill Carnival

· The Lord Mayor's Show

· The London Marathon

· BBC Newsnight

· UK National Panorama Competition

· BBC, Back in time for Brixton

· London Pride

· International Steelband festival - De Kwakel, Amsterdam

In 2024, they formed a Youth Steel Orchestra. This was to enable young people who have had experience learning the steelpan to have the opportunity to further develop their musical ability, and build confidence through performance. Including their professional orchestra, they now have 4 groups rehearsing and performing regularly.

They secured 2nd place at the UK Junior Steelband Panorama competition playing "Too Own Way" by Voice, arranged by Marlon Hibbert. This year, Endurance Junior Panorama band will be made up of twenty seven players.