WAVES of delightful steel pan music filled the air as patrons poured into the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall yesterday to experience the Ministry of Culture and Republic Bank Steel Band Competition.The packed-to-capacity Sports Hall was brought to life as Vijay Sharma, 12-year-old Queen’s College student, playing with the Pan Wave Academy Steel Orchestra, opened the event, playing the first stanza of the Guyana National Anthem.

Sponsored by Republic Bank for the seventh consecutive year, the event saw this year’s competition being hosted in two parts. Performances for the jazz ensembles, duet and soloists on one evening; and school bands and large bands were held yesterday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
COUPLE FROM SWEDEN
This newspaper spoke with a visiting couple from Sweden, and they explained that they were looking for an event to attend and just happened to pass by the Sports Hall and hear the pan music. “We asked our driver to enquire if we can attend the event; we paid and we came in. We are enjoying every bit of this competition,” the couple said, adding that they love music, and are amazed at the skills and talent the children possess.
During his brief remarks, Manager of Corporate Operations at Republic Bank Limited (RBL), Denys Benjamin, noted that this is the seventh year the RBL has sponsored this event and the company is very pleased with the growth that this competition has seen over the years.
MUSIC LITERACY
According to Benjamin, the Republic Right Start Pan Minors Music Literacy programme saw 130 youths benefited from the music literacy programme. This pan programme also exposed a wider cross-section of Guyana’s children to the steel pan art form, thus enabling them to appreciate a style of music that forms an important part of Guyana’s cultural heritage.

The programme, which commenced in 2010, teaches the necessary skills for playing the steel pan and acquiring the knowledge of the rudiments of music. He noted that RBL remains committed to this programme and takes pleasure in being a part of the competition.
In the small school bands, the audience was entertained by foot tapping renditions from St Rose’s High, Lodge Secondary, Dolphin Secondary and West Demerara Secondary schools. Buxton Pride, North Ruimveldt Secondary, Pan Wave Academy Steel Orchestra and The Bishops’ High School performed under the large school groups’ category.
The large band category saw performances from Parkside Steel Orchestra, Buxton Pride Community Band, Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Steel Orchestra.
Judging from the feisty participation and responses from steel band enthusiasts and many supporters who attended the event, all enjoyed a great evening.

(By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally)