GHS, Starlift outplay the competition

Defending champs the Girls’ High School and Sea Operations Starlift are the 2011 school and community based junior panorama champions, respectively, following a show held last Sunday, June 26, at the Victoria Park.{{more}}

Performing Touch’s ‘Jubilee’, the GHS girls successfully defended their crown ahead of the Adelphi Secondary, with their rendition of Fireman Hooper’s ‘Soca Battlefield’. Adelphi had to settle for the second position.

Johnny ‘JP’ Pompey, arranger for the Girls’ High School, told SEARCHLIGHT that while he was overwhelmed to have retained the school based junior panorama title, it was not at all easy.

He explained that there were some tight times leading up to the day of competition, with some players having to complete exams; that was just one of the many disruptions he and the band had to contend with.

Pompey, who has been with the GHS since the school established a pan side in 1989, further explained that it was not until days before competition that they got everything right.

“I wasn’t too confident, but I prayed about it and got up and ran with it. I told them just come out and have fun,” Pompey said.

The tune ‘Jubilee’ was selected to coincide with the school’s 100th anniversary celebrations and, according to Pompey, he was impressed with the performance of the girls.

Meanwhile, the C.W Prescod Primary took the third spot with its rendition of ‘Macao Man’ by Touch, and Bishop’s College came in fourth with their number ‘This Yah Meat’ by Gao.

St Joseph’s Convent Kingstown, the GHS’s rival, came in the fifth spot despite a good performance as they performed Becket’s classic ‘Teaser’, and Troumaca Government Primary had to settle for the sixth spot with Maddzart’s ‘Is Me Friend’.

Long time rivals Starlift and the Sion Hill Euphonium went head to head in battle in the community based section of the competition, coming on second and third, respectively, in the order of appearance.

But this time around, it would be the band from Block 2000 that would walk away victorious.

Starlift, with its rendition of Poorsah’s ‘Picking Cherry’, was good enough to take the top spot against the defending champions Sion Hill Euphonium doing ‘Kangaroo’ by Touch.

“I feel justice has been served tonight,” Kingsley ‘Hero’ Roberts, arranger for Starlift, told SEARCHLIGHT.

“Everybody gave a good account of themselves – tonight was a beautiful night of pan,” he continued.

Roberts was content, saying that in his opinion, everything went to plan, adding that he liked what he saw with the unity among all the pan players.

But he gave his players the thumbs up for a good all round performance.

“Everybody can’t win. We are 44 years old, but every band gave a good account.”

Rodney Small, arranger for Sion Hill, told SEARCHLIGHT that the main aim was to keep the title in Sion Hill.

“But also for the young ones to come and enjoy what they (the young ones) were doing,” Small said.

“But the judges’ word is final,” he said, adding that it was now back to the drawing board.

SVG Port Authority Genesis out of Largo Height performed well with ‘Pan Jam’ by Exodus, but had to settle for the third spot.

South Windward’s Symphonix came in fourth with ‘Tone’ by Becket, Georgetown All Stars came in fifth doing Dan Simon’s ‘We Want Pan’, and Rose Bank North Stars came in sixth doing ‘Back Off’ by Touch.

Yesterday, Thursday, June 30, was the turn of the senior players, when the senior panorama competition was held. (DD)