–for an afternoon of thrills, skills and pure entertainment
THE National Cultural Centre came alive yesterday afternoon with the delightful sounds of the steel pan and a capacity crowd which had gathered to experience the Republic Bank’s Pan-o-rama Steel Band Competition 2014.

Sponsored by Republic Bank for the sixth consecutive year, the event saw the introduction of a new “Pan Jazz” category, whose fusion is becoming a recognised form in the Jazz genre, hence its introduction into the competition.

A preliminary competition in the School Band category was held on February 14 to accommodate the large amount of participating schools — an offshoot of the continued output of the Republic RightStart Pan Minors Music Literacy Programme, another similar annual initiative under the “Power to Make a Difference” umbrella. This move 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.

This programme, which commenced in 2010, teaches the necessary skills for playing the steel pan and acquiring the knowledge of the rudiments of music.

Due to the ongoing focus on youth in steel pan, 11 school bands competed in their preliminary, with the five best being featured last evening in the final.

The 2014 Mashramani Panorama Steel Pan Competition featured bands competing in six categories, namely:
* Senior Pan Solo
* Junior Solo
* Pan Duet
* School Band
* Pan Jazz
* Large Band

Judging from the spirited participation and responses from steel band enthusiasts and many supporters who attended the event, all enjoyed a great evening.
According to manager of the Camp Street branch of the Republic Bank, Mr Sherwyn Greaves, in his opening remarks to the gathering, it was heartwarming to note the vibrant resurgence of the steel pan art form, and moreso the visibility of much younger players, notably those under 20.
Greaves assured his audience that Republic Bank remains committed to being of service to communities, especially in providing avenues for empowerment of the nation’s youth.

“In so doing, we take pleasure in being a part of the revival of pan with our “Power to Make a Difference” social outreach initiative, and today we are very pleased to be able to witness the power and passion of pan, [which] we anticipate will be unveiled for our enjoyment,” he added, to loud applause.

Greaves noted that during last year alone, 150 youths throughout Guyana benefited from the Republic RighStart Pan Minors Music Literacy programme, and the bank not only wants to generate a greater interest in the art form, but also to foster the excellence that was displayed last evening.
Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, attended the event and expressed pleasure at the overwhelming response by steel pan enthusiasts and supporters. He expressed profound gratitude to Republic Bank for its sponsorship of the event for the last six years, and said. “Six years ago, Republic Bank committed to finance the event, and six years hence, they are still with us and have stuck to their promise.”

Dr. Anthony said this is precisely the type of partnership and corporate responsibility the Culture Ministry would like to see other corporate entities take on.
He said the ministry was also pleased to see the strides school and community bands have been making in recent times. He recalled that, previously, there were not many school and community bands; but, today, that situation is changing, and he credited that development to the ministry’s initiative in utilizing monies raised through various activities staged during Mashramani to invest into establishing more school and community bands, and to provide tutors to work along with the youths.

Additionally, during the July/August holidays, tutors are delegated to go out into the communities to teach young people to play the steel pan, hence the country is getting more and more young people into the school bands.

“Because of that programme of giving back, and that simple outreach, we have seen more bands entering the competitions,” Minister Anthony said with an air of pride and satisfaction. This gesture, he said, has given rise to the emergence of more diverse categories of the competition.

Dr. Anthony lauded the support garnered from the various entities, adding that it certainly lends to making a difference with steel pan music in Guyana.

Preparing the audience for a treat ahead, Dr. Anthony assured, “So tonight you’ll be seeing — or what you’ll be hearing is from some of these youth bands that have been around, and I think you’ll be having a more diverse competition.”

To this end, he urged Guyanese to come out in their numbers to support the bands whenever they are performing.

Other performances he highlighted were:
* An exhibition, currently being staged at the National Museum, depicting what we have done as a country over 44 years.

* An Art Exhibition depicting “44 years of sculpting in Guyana”, being held at Castellani House on Vlissengen Road.

* The Republic of Guyana to deliver a lecture this year by the distinguished Professor Clem Seecharran. Dr. Seecharran has also written extensively on sports, namely West Indian Cricket from the 1800s to the 1960s.

Minister Anthony is urging Guyanese to come out in their numbers to listen to and benefit from these events.
Written By Shirley Thomas