The Ministry of Education has been working to boost interest and participation in the annual Mashramani Panorama competition by getting more schools involved.

THE ministry’s Allied Arts Unit has started steelpan programmes in several schools to foster interest in the art, and they are expecting greater participation at next year’s Panorama.
“We [Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport] are looking out for the new bands from Regions Two, Three, Five, Six and Ten,” Mashramani Coordinator, Andrew Tyndall told DPI recently. They are also looking to host the competition at a larger venue. “We are looking at options, and while we would like to move from current venue [Cliff Anderson Sports Hall] to accommodate more persons who would like to attend the festival, we have to take in consideration the impact this decision will have on the bands, particularly the smaller bands,” Tyndall disclosed.

The steelpan competition has drawn huge crowds annually. Tyndall noted that more than 25 bands participated this year, which led to congestion at the ‘Sports Hall.’  He added that moving would mean hosting the event at an open-air venue. According to Tyndall, the department would decide on that soon.

At this year’s Panorama, Dolphin Secondary School emerged victorious with President’s College and the Berbice High School placing second and third respectively in the small youth band category. In the large youth band category, the crowd favourite– GBTI Buxton Pride Steel Orchestra– copped first place followed by West Demerara Secondary and The Bishops’ High School respectively. Some 1,180 students have so far benefited from the Pan Minors Music Literacy Programme since Panorama’s launch in 2009. (DPI)