Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra aiming for No.1 spot

When the history of the local pan movement is written, the National Lotteries Authority Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra will be inked as the first band to ever hold an internal panorama competition.

The competition was staged, on Sunday March 13, at the Hard Court which adjoins the band’s pan yard.

The competition was won by the adult beginners’ class, who were also the toast of the occasion as their graduation exercise was the main reason for the activity.

The 13 graduands played Rupert ‘Rupee’ Clarke’s “What happens in the party”, out pointing their opponents, the Junior Trainees out fit.{{more}}

The ceremony was endorsed by the presence of Minister of Culture, Rene Baptiste, Minister of Transport and Works Julian Francis, Opposition Leader and Parliamentary Representative for East Kingstown, Arnhim Eustace and deputy chairman of the National Lotteries Authority Grantley Williams, who was also among the 13 who graduated.

Chairman of the organisation, Warren “Boomie” Knights has hailed the band’s latest achievements as “positive”, and said it augurs well for the community and the steel-band movement in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

He said the recent training of the adults fits into the band’s plan to create another landmark.

Knights disclosed that the band was looking seriously at matching what occurs in Trinidad and Tobago, producing a band of 100 players for this year’s Panorama competition.

Thus, he hopes to take the band one step further on their last year’s placing. Sion Hill had to settle for second spot behind the Starlift Steel Orchestra, although their performance was the most energetic and thrilling at a Panorama competition.

Sion Hill Euphonium is also aiming for the hattrick in Junior Panorama this year, continuing their top placing in 2003 and 2004.

The band has been very visible at most government functions with a representative group from the band set to form part of this country’s cultural component, at a Tourism promotion in Canada in April.