By Daniel Haynes

IT’S Sunday, February 28, 2016, and just as in previous years, the Cliff Andersen Sports Hall is filled with hundreds of patrons. It’s the biggest night in steel pan here Guyana; the annual Mashramani Steel Band Competition, known by one word: Panorama.

IN THE BEGINNING
Held annually, since its debut in 2008, by the Ministry of Education’s Culture, Youth and Sport Division in February around ‘Mash’, ‘Panorama’ has grown in popularity as well as in size, adding more school bands, soloists and large bands.
The uniqueness of Panorama, however, is due to the fact that it offers Guyanese an opportunity to enjoy Mashramani away from the ‘jump-up’ and what many would call the confusion of the floats. Panorama has cemented itself in the ‘Mash’ calendar of events, and has come to be widely anticipated by the Guyanese public, especially those who have relatives that are pannists.
It is currently sponsored by the Republic Bank, which, in 2015, plugged a whopping $2.8M into the competition to facilitate its being successfully run.
The competition comes in six categories: Junior Solo, Senior Solo, Pan Duet, Pan Jazz, School Bands and Large Bands, and of them all, the most anticipated are the last two.
But Panorama is more than just music, as it offers a wealth of opportunity for the development of ‘pan’ music in Guyana. It’s also an opportunity to see, hear and experience some of the powerhouses in local ‘pan’.

PAN’S SUCCESS STORY

The Panorama world was shaken to the core, when, in 2014, newcomers to the bright lights, the GBTI-sponsored Buxton Pride Steel Orchestra took the coveted first place position and prize in the School Bands category of the competition.
The then ‘underdogs’ were to shake things up again last year, taking the title and proving in the process that the first time wasn’t just a fluke.
As one aficionado was to later observe, had Hip-Hop artiste, Drake’s song, “Back-to-Back”, been released back then, it would have certainly been the Band’s theme song.
However, like all success stories, it wasn’t all fame and glory, but an arduous climb undertaken by Fitzroy Younge, who took up the mantle of resuscitating the programme in 2010 before there was any talk of sponsorship. “Buxton did not have a steel orchestra in over 50 years,” Younge recalled. “And when I took over, I did it out of love for the community, being a native Buxtonian.”
According to him, it was former President Bharrat Jagdeo who gave them their first set of steel pans. That was in August 2010, when there were just ten members in the band. Since then, that number has grown to 30.
The Buxton steel-band programme is an after-school one which focuses on keeping school-age children off the streets, and teaching them to channel their energies into more productive activities.
“We’re one of the poorest communities,” Younge said, “and it’s easy for youngsters to find themselves in all sorts of trouble. The Band keeps everyone out of trouble, and teaches them a skill of music.”
GBTI came on board with sponsorship in 2013, which allowed the band to purchase their own chrome-finished pans. As any follower of the steel pan will know, this type of instrument makes pan music even sweeter.
In addition to their own development, the Buxton orchestra has been able to donate $100000 of their winnings into aiding in the revival of the President’s College Steel Orchestra, and together the two bands have been working to ensure that the latter gets back on its feet.
Younge believes that the sense of community that Buxtonians have always had, has played a major role in the band’s success.
Said he: “Parents have been fully involved, and in order for success to happen, parents have to be supportive and players; and those involved have to show a commitment to the art form.”

PANORAMA VETERAN
Another ‘Pan’ success story is that of Jovanka Williams.
If you go to any Panorama competition, you are sure to hear the name Jovanka Williams.
As a matter of fact, it’s kinda hard to talk about the new ‘school-pan’ generation and not mention Jovanka Williams. Her life is so dedicated to pan, that she plays in three bands; teaches pan at two schools; and travelled the region extensively, just playing pan, the latest such occasion being at CARIFESTA XII which was held in Haiti.

But the icing on an already extravagant cake comes with her having five awards at Panorama: Three Senior Soloist titles, and two titles she shared with a partner as duet champion.
However, if you thought the awards stopped there, you’re dead wrong. In 2014, she won the award from the National School of Music for being the most musically-inclined student; something that is not surprising, if you know her. She also captured the Youth Award of Excellence for outstanding achievements in the field of music.
Jovanka is a 24-year-old steel pan ‘phenom’ who has been playing pan for the last 14 years.
She was first introduced to the instrument at St. Gabriel’s Primary School, where she discovered her love for it.
After writing the then ‘Common Entrance’ examination, she gained a place at The Bishops’ High School, where playing pan was to become a way of life.
From there, she joined the Parkside Steel Orchestra, and now, years later, she is one of the brightest talents Guyana has to offer.
But pan isn’t Jovanka’s sole focus; she has a diploma in Marketing, and is currently pursuing a degree in Business Management.
The dates for Panorama are February 25 at the Theatre Guild, and February 28 at the Cliff Andersen Sports Hall, and both Jovanka and ‘Buxton Pride’ will be there performing.
Steel pan in Guyana is on the move, and, thanks to Panorama, Guyanese can now experience it, live.