STEELBAND COMPETITIONS
The Trinidad and Tobago Steelband Association, the precursor to the present representative body Pan Trinbago, was establishment in 1950. Pan Trinbago was formed to promote the development of the steelband as a musical artform. In this regard, from 1950 onwards, concerts and festivals were organised and held for steelbands. Pan Trinbago is now the official body representing the local steelband industry.
Starting in 1963, the Panorama steelband competition was inaugurated as an annual pre-carnival event and today, it has evolved into the premiere steelband competition in Trinidad and Tobago. Open to conventional steelbands, a preliminary round of competitions is held in five designated zones throughout the country beginning in January and continuing to the weekend before carnival. During this time, steelbands from all zones vie for supremacy. The grand final of the competion, Panorama, is held on the Saturday before Carnival, heralding in Sunday's Dimanche Gras competition and the greatest show on earth - Carnival Monday and Tuesday.
For Pan Trinbago's official list of Panorama winners:
2005 Panorama Winners
Also visit the Carnival Champions page for detailed lists of various competition winners from as early as 1932.
Other steelband competitions include:
- Junior Panorama competition, held for secondary schools steelband
- World Steelband festival: is a b-ennial event, it started in 1998. Last held in Longon, England in August-October 2004. It was held under the Auspices of Pan Trinbago and the Pan European and British Association of Steelbands.
- The Jouvert Bomb Competition - usually held on Carnival Monday, it features steelbands doing rapid transitions from one melody to another.
- Pan Ramajay, held each year in May
- Pan Jazz Festival, first held in 1988, now held annually in November of each year
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