BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – SYMPHONIC marriage of the single tenor, cello, double tenor and bass steel pans was the order of the night last evening (Dec. 22) when the Sugar Mas 45 Steel Band Competition was held. And as sweet as the music was, some cried foul on the judges’ decision while others rejoiced in their accomplishment.
Five groups participated: the Nevis Pan Ensemble out of Nevis, the Cayon Pantastics, the Sweet Sticks out of Nevis, the Silver Stars Steel Orchestra and the 2015 champions the Earl Boots Jones (EBJ) Harmonics.
The groups were required to begin with a warmup piece to get them and the audience into the groove of things and then they were to perform their version of the test piece, King Star Shield’s ‘Hooray Mas’.
Each group appeared to have done their best to bring out the spirit of the song while displaying their skill and individuality. From crescendos to decrescendos to seamless key changes to choreography, the renditions were entertaining to say the least, with segments of the audience expressing their support for the different groups.
Of the 100 points that each group could have gotten from each judge, 40 points were for arrangement and 60 for general performance. These included re-harmonization, melodic development, motif development, interpretation, dynamics, costume, tone and rhythm.
Judges Judith Gumbs, Sylvester Charles, Sylvester ‘King Socrates’ Hodge and Stanley Franks decided that the Nevis Pan Ensemble was in the Second Runner Up position with 282 points, with 320 the EBJ Harmonics were in the First Runner Up spot and the Cayon Pantastics are at the top of the game with 330 points.
In addition to bragging rights, the Pantastics leave the competition with a $7,000 cash prize. The Harmonics walk away with a $5,000 cash prize, $3,000 would be given to the Ensemble and the other participating groups would each receive a $1,000 consolation prize.
Leader of the Pantastics Melly Hewlette told SKNVibes that prior to 2015, his group had won the competition eight times and this year, it has taken its rightful position at the top.
“I know what we are capable of doing and we have been winning this thing for eight years. Last year there was a little bit of a confusion so they won last year but we just took back what really belongs to us.”
He said the strategy going into this year’s competition was the same as every other year and he congratulated his team for a job well done.
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