By Daniel Haynes

SUNDAY, February 28, 2016 has come and gone, and, as anticipated, the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall was bursting at its seams. It was the biggest night in steel pan in Guyana, and the annual Mashramani Steel Band Competition, known by one word, Panorama, did not disappoint, as always.
Never mind this year’s event was not as big as last year’s, it by no means lacked the customary energy, hype and competition.
There were a total of 11 bands on the big night: Four small-school bands; four big-school bands and three large-school bands.
You take some of the biggest names in school steel pan, like upstart Buxton Pride who won two years in a row, and veteran North Ruimveldt Multilateral; the biggest names in large bands like Department of Culture Youth and Sport and Panwave Parkside, and what you have is a show.

TAKING BACK THE CROWN
On the night, the competition was most stiff between Buxton and North Ruimveldt Multilateral School (better known as ‘Multi’), who have been doing battle since Buxton burst onto the scene in 2014.
The two other schools in the ‘big-school’ category, namely Bishops’ and St. Roses, were mere bystanders; and like the patrons who were in attendance, were treated to what steel pan should sound like.
‘Multi’ went before Buxton, and their synchronicity was on point; and for a school that has had a rich history in steel pan, dating back to 1978, showed their class with a medley of ‘Oh Beautiful Guyana’.
However, it was not a simple knockout, as Buxton came out swinging, taking up the challenge set by ‘Multi’.
Buxton’s conductor, Ray Sparman was the first to acknowledge that it was a close call indeed, after both bands had finished performing.
In the end, the judges favoured North Ruimveldt’s rendition and awarded them first place, a decision that sent fans into an uproar, and even saw some pannists of the school shedding a few tears.
Also taking back their crown that night was Panwave Parkside, who took first in a decision that was a close call between them and the Department of Culture Youth and Sport.
However, The Guyana Police Force was not going to let either of the two run away with the show, and one policeman embodied the spirit of performance by jumping up on his six-bass drum and gyrating his waist whilst still playing his bass in tune with the melodies.
The Department of Culture Youth and Sport proved their prowess with a performance that looked like it came straight out of the movie, Drumline, with pannists jumping up and singing along to what they were playing.
Ultimately, it was Parkside, whose band comprised mostly of schoolchildren who have been battling with exams and the everyday struggles of lessons.
Director of the band, Cary Gillis who is also a player, attributed the win to the coming together of the band members and the determination to not be second best any longer, since them just like Multi came in second last year.

FINAL VERDICT
The results from the night included the small school band seeing St. Roses take third, Lodge Secondary second, and Dolphin’s Secondary first.
In the ‘big-school band’ category, third place went to Bishops’ High, second to Buxton Pride, and first to arch rival, North Ruimveldt Secondary. Finally, to round off the night, the Guyana Police Force came third, Deparment of Culture Youth and Sport second, and Parkside first.
With performances like the ones seen on Panorama night, it’s no surprise that steel pan is back in Guyana in full swing.
What does come as a surprise, however, is the amount of youth who are throwing themselves wholeheartedly into the instrument.
Names like Hanani Ben Lewi, Reon Miller and Jovanka Williams, all from Parkside, are embracing what steel pan pioneers in Guyana were trying to achieve all along.