Virtual pan competition gets interest from new countries Panograma buzz

Last year, virtual events stepped in to fill the void left by the cancellation of physical events in the wake of the covid19 pandemic.

Panograma was one of those virtual events.

It is being held again this year even as the world cautiously reopens and events begin happening again. It has also seen increased interest.

A media release said, “The Panograma Entertainment team is excited to announce that audition submissions for this year’s competition more than doubled the previous staging’s total number of competitors.”

This year 45 pannists auditioned for a place in 30 that would compete in the preliminaries. Defending champion Earl Brooks Jr is among the 30.

The release added that the 45 participants came from 13 countries including Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, UK, France, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, TT, the US Virgin Islands and the US.

It’s founder Nevin Roach said, “I’m very happy to see that the team’s hard work is paying off and Panograma is growing.

“An increase from 20 participants to 45 this year was amazing, especially seeing interest from new countries such as France, Canada, England, US Virgin Islands and St Kitts and Nevis.”

He added that the brand would continue to strive for excellence.

The virtual competition’s preliminaries will run from May 7-9, its semi-finals on May 13 and the finals on May 22. Each round ten participants will be eliminated. It will be streamed on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.

The release said TT’s Professor Liam Teague are among the judges along with world-renowned pannist Victor Provost (US Virgin Islands), Ojay Richards (TT), David ZigE Walcott (Barbados) and Andy Chichester (Grenada).

It added that all preliminary participants will receive new MalletMan pan sticks and access to webinars geared towards musical and professional development.

Teague also hosted a career guidance webinar for the participants and members of the public, the release said.

Its semi-finalists will receive a copy of the Steelpan App Gold and all finalists will receive an EnSoul Pan Pickup and an appearance fee.

The 2021 Panograma winner will receive a cash prize of US$1000, a trip to Canada for the Sons of Steel concert, a virtual session with Provost, an appearance fee and an Augustus Peters Steelpans Low C Tenor Pan package.

The runner-up will receive US$800 cash and a virtual session with Provost, while third place will receive US$500 cash and a virtual session with Provost.

Those who made it to Panograma’s preliminaries are: - Antigua and Barbuda: Maurisha Potter, Japhon Barthley, Demetre Samuel, Kevhani Greenaway, Samanya Brazier. Barbados: Andre Forde;

Canada: Gabriel Chartrand; England: Douglas Dallaway; France: Mathieu Borgne; Grenada: Mikiel Smith; Guyana: Detroy Dey; St Lucia: Al Alexander.

TT: Tyeesha Alexander, Keishaun Julien, Dejean Cain, Dejea Cain, Shaquille Forbes, Jamel Cadette, Aquila Pereira, Charlton Alfonso, Megan-Leigh Langton-Attang, Shovon Brown, Vivian Williams, Hanif Goodridge, Kion Robinson and Carlon Lyons.

The US Virgin Islands (St Thomas): Leroi Simmonds; US: David Yundi and Matthew Kiser and defending champion Earl Brooks Jr of TT.