Uni Stars wins Pan is More Beautiful single pan category

UNI STARS is the 2024 single pan champions of the revamped Pan is More Beautiful under the Beverley Ramsey-Moore led Pan Trinbago. The band won by a convincing lead over the second-place winners Chord Masters.

It also won in the Best Tune of Choice and Best Test Piece sub-categories.

This is the first final of the returned competition, with the ensemble and orchestra categories soon to follow.

The Laventille band will take home $200,000 for its win. Second-place winners will receive $175,000 while third-place winners will get $150,000. The band placing fourth will get $125,000 and bands placing fifth-tenth will get $100,000 each.

Uni Stars was also a second-place winner when the classical competition was last held in 2013.

The band eventually won even though reigning Panorama single pan champions Chord Masters took the lead after the qualifying rounds. The finals were held at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s, Port of Spain on July 27.

The Prime Minister, Minister of Tourism Culture and the Arts Randall Mitchell, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh, Energy Minister Stuart Young and National Carnival Commission (NCC) CEO Keiba Jacob Mottley were among the audience. Dr Rowley is also the competition’s patron.

The finals were further divided into three categories: overall winners, best tune of choice and best test piece. There was an additional prize given for best dressed band, which the band Platinum won.

Pan Trinbago said in a release that the ten bands’ dedication, talent and passion for music truly shone through and made the organisation proud.

It thanked supporters, patrons, communities and residents for their unwavering support and enthusiasm which “have been crucial in bringing the magic of steelpan to life,” it said.

The qualifying round for the single pan category began on July 12 and the finalistswere announced on July 17.

The qualifying round for the ensemble begins on August 2 while it begins on August 13 for orchestras.

Single pan category overall winners:

1 Uni Stars – 956

2 Chord Masters – 933

3 Le Famille United – 926

4 Platinum – 925

5 Trinidad & Tobago Police Service – 888

6 Nostrand Symphony – 882

7 Trinidad East Side Symphony – 877

8 Pan Elites – 843

9 Scrunters Pan Groove – 840

10 New Age Trendsetters – 829