Starlift Steel Orchestra, Girls’ High School retain Junior Pan Fest titles

The Sea Operations Starlift Steel Orchestra and the St Vincent Girls’ High School have done it again.

On Sunday, June 28, these two pan sides retained their titles as the top community and school based junior steelbands respectively at the Youlou Pan Movement Junior Pan Fest.{{more}}

The small, but appreciative crowd present at the Victoria Park on Sunday were treated to the sweet sound of rubber greeting well-tuned steel.

With their rendition of Winston Soso’s ‘Set It Off’, the Girls’ High School outplayed six other schools on their way to yet another crown — amassing a total of 260 points.

Rounding off the top three was the St Joseph’s Convent Kingstown with their rendition of Maddzart’s ‘Life of the Carnival’. They received 207 points.

While their efforts should be commended, the five-member Union Island Secondary School band chose to use last Sunday’s national competition to practise their rendition of Becket’s ‘St Vincent my Homeland.’

The other competing schools were the Bethel High School, the Troumaca Government School North Stars and the South Rivers Methodist Future Stars.

In the much anticipated community bands competition, Starlift proved too much for the Sion Hill Euphonium once more, as they secured 266 points to remain champions. The 60-member side played ‘Pan Jam’ by X-A-Dus.

The Sion Hill Euphonium, while putting on a great show with their rendition of Ricky Melville’s ‘Mr Music Man’ received 252 points to secure the second spot.

Symphonix Steel Orchestra, with Touch’s ‘Jam Dem,’ came in third with 241 points.

The other participating pan side was the St Vincent Port Authority Genesis Steel Orchestra.

The judges in the competition were: Jennifer Glasgow-Browne, Junior Sutherland, Darrien Ollivierre, Nolly McDowall and Rodney Small.

Brief addresses were made by Oneka Morgan, president of the Youlou Pan Movement; Tamara Job-Sprott, VINLEC representative; and Cecil McKie, Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture.

The national anthem was played on pan by Trevon Toney of the Georgetown All Stars.(KW)