National Panorama Medium & Large Conventional Bands Finals 2015

NGC Couva Joylanders and bp Renagades will play first in their respective categories on Saturday (14th February 2015) as the National Panorama Medium & Large Conventional Bands Finals take centre stage at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, Trinidad, from 7:00pm.

Twenty one (21) steel orchestras will know their musical fate as they face two panels of adjudicators in what has been deemed “the battle royale for steelpan supremacy”. First prize winner in the Large Band category will receive $1,000.000. while that in the Medium Band will receive $600,000. and the bp Challenge trophies.

Making the cut are three (3) bands from Tobago.   Each of the competing bands will perform its Panorama calypso selection not exceeding eight (8) minutes and will be judged on the basis of 100 points in the categories Arrangement (40), General Performance (40), Tone (10) and Rhythm (10).

This year’s theme is “Reaching for the Stars….Pan in Ecstasy”. Six (6) individuals, Milton “Wire”Austin, Tommy Crichlow, Rennison Quashie, Sharon Pitt, Wallace Austin and Eshwarlal “Sam” Ramjitsingh will be honored for their dedicated service to the Organization.

In commemoration of Valentine’s Day, patrons attending the event will be treated to complimentary alcoholic beverages and chocolates, with those opting for the North Stand enjoying an all-inclusive experience. In addition, two (2) lucky persons will walk away with a pair of airline tickets to any Caribbean Airlines destination each.  Prices of admission are $750. (Special Reserved), $500. (General) and $450. (North Stand)

Fans, local and foreign, would be able to text the code of their favorite bands to a number provided by bmobile to vote in the FCL Financial People’s Choice. The bands with the most votes in each category will collect $10,000. while the person who text the most votes for the winning bands wins a Samsung S5 Smart phone courtesy blink/bmobile.

The order of appearance in Saturday’s competition is as follows: