Panorama is an annual music competition of steelbands from Trinidad and Tobago, taking place since 1963. It is usually held around Carnival time.
History The first official Trinidad Panorama was held during Carnival celebrations in 1963.orama. Pantrinbago. It was originally pioneered by Chairman of the Carnival Development Committee, Ronald Jay Williams, who gave the festival its name. Similarly styled "Panorama" steelband competitions are also staged at Carnival time in other Caribbean communities.
Typically, each steelpan orchestra plays a popular Calypso that is arranged into a piece with original introductions and variations.
As part of the International Conference on Pan (ICP) in August 2015, Trinidad hosted the International Panorama Competition. The international edition of Panorama was held over a two-day period, 8–9 August 2015. The competition brought together participants from the approximately 38 steelband-playing countries from around the world to compete against each other for the title of ICP Champions 2015."August 8th & August 9th 2015: World's Largest Steelpan Competition", ICP.
In 1979, Panorama in Trinidad was not held due to Rudolph Charles' fight for higher recognition of pannists. The competition was again cancelled in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is held in Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain.
Readings Felix I. R. Blake, The Trinidad and Tobago Steel Pan: History and Evolution, 1995.
References
Past Winners
List of past winners in the category Large Band: Year Steelband Song Composer Arranger 1963 North Stars "Dan Is the Man" Mighty Sparrow Anthony Williams 1964 North Stars "Mama Dis Is Mas" Lord Kitchener Anthony Williams 1965 Cavaliers "Melody Mas" Lord Melody Bobby Mohammed 1966 Desperadoes "Obeah Wedding" Mighty Sparrow Beverly Griffith 1967 Cavaliers "Sixty-Seven" Lord Kitchener Bobby Mohammed 1968 Harmonites "Wrecker" Lord Kitchener Earl Rodney 1969 Starlift "The Bull" Lord Kitchener Ray Holman 1970 Desperadoes "Margie" Lord Kitchener Clive Bradley 1971 Harmonites "Play Mas" Lord Kitchener Earl Rodney 1972 Harmonites "St. Thomas Girl" Lord Kitchener Earl Rodney 1973 Trinidad All Stars "Rainorama" Lord Kitchener Rudy Wells 1974 Harmonites "Jericho" Lord Kitchener Rupert Mark 1975 Hatters "Tribute to Spree Simon" Lord Kitchener Steve Achaiba 1976 Desperadoes "Pan In Harmony" Lord Kitchener Clive Bradley 1977 Desperadoes "Crawford" Lord Kitchener Clive Bradley 1978 Starlift "Du Du Yemi" Winston Devine Herschel Puckerin 1979 No competition 1980 Trinidad All Stars "Woman on the Bass" Scrunter Leon "Smooth" Edwards 1981 Trinidad All Stars "Unknown Band" Blue Boy Leon "Smooth" Edwards 1982 Renegades "Pan Explosion" Lord Kitchener Jit Samaroo 1983 Desperadoes "Rebecca" Blue Boy Clive Bradley 1984 Renegades "Sweet Pan" Lord Kitchener Jit Samaroo 1985 (Tie) Renegades "Pan Night and Day" Lord Kitchener Jit Samaroo Desperadoes "Pan Night and Day" Lord Kitchener Beverly Griffith 1986 Trinidad All Stars "The Hammer" David Rudder Leon "Smooth" Edwards 1987 Phase II Pan Groove "This Feelin' Nice" Len "Boogsie" Sharpe Len "Boogsie" Sharpe 1988 Phase II Pan Groove "Woman is Boss" Len "Boogsie" Sharpe Len "Boogsie" Sharpe 1989 Renegades "Somebody" Winsford "Joker" Devine Jit Samaroo 1990 Renegades "Iron Man" Lord Kitchener Jit Samaroo 1991 Desperadoes "Musical Volcano" Robert Greenidge Robert Greenidge 1992 Exodus "Savannah Party" Pelham Goddard Pelham Goddard/Desmond Waithe 1993 Renegades "Mystery Band" Lord Kitchener Jit Samaroo 1994 Desperadoes "Fire Coming Down" Robert Greenidge Robert Greenidge 1995 Renegades "Four Lara Four" Merchant/DeFosto Jit Samaroo 1996 Renegades "Pan in a Rage" DeFosto Jit Samaroo 1997 Renegades "Guitar Pan" Lord Kitchener Jit Samaroo 1998 Nutones "High Mas" David Rudder Clive Bradley 1999 Desperadoes "In My House" Emanuel Synette Clive Bradley 2000 Desperadoes "Picture on My Wall" Emanuel Synette Clive Bradley 2001 Exodus "Happy Song" Pelham Goddard Pelham Goddard 2002 Trinidad All Stars "Fire Storm" DeFosto Leon "Smooth" Edwards 2003 Exodus "Pandora" DeFosto Pelham Goddard 2004 Exodus "War" DeFosto Pelham Goddard 2005 Phase II Pan Groove "Trini Gone Wild" Len "Boogsie" Sharpe Len "Boogsie" Sharpe 2006 Phase II Pan Groove "This One's 4u Bradley" Len "Boogsie" Sharpe Len "Boogsie" Sharpe 2007 Trinidad All Stars "Pan Lamentation" DeFosto Leon "Smooth" Edwards 2008 Phase II Pan Groove "Musical Vengeance" Gregory Ballantyne Len "Boogsie" Sharpe 2009 Silver Stars "First in de Line" Edwin Pouchet/Alvin Daniell Edwin Pouchet 2010 Silver Stars "Battle Zone" Edwin Pouchet/Alvin Daniell Edwin Pouchet 2011 Trinidad All Stars "It's Showtime" Edwin Pouchet/Alvin Daniell Leon "Smooth" Edwards 2012 Trinidad All Stars "Play Yourself" Clive Telemaque Leon "Smooth" Edwards 2013 Phase II Pan Groove "More Love" Black Stalin Len "Boogsie" Sharpe 2014 Phase II Pan Groove "Jump High" Destra Garcia Len "Boogsie" Sharpe 2015 Trinidad All Stars "Unquestionable" Sheldon Reid Leon "Smooth" Edwards 2016 Desperadoes "A Different Me" "5Star" Akil Borneo Carlton "Zanda" Alexander 2017 Trinidad All Stars "Full Extreme" Ultimate Rejects ft. MX Prime Leon "Smooth" Edwards 2018 Renegades "Year for Love" Aaron "Voice" St Louis Duvone Stewart 2019 Renegades "Hookin' Meh" N. Batson, E. George, M. Hulsmeier, S. Galt & D. Henry Duvone Stewart 2020 Desperadoes "More Sokah" Nailah Blackman, Sekon Sta & Anson Soverall Carlton “Zanda” Alexander 2021 No competition 2022 No competition 2023 Renegades "Black Man Feeling to Party" Black Stalin Duvone Stewart 2024 (Tie) Renegades "DNA" Michel "Teja" Williams Duvone Stewart Trinidad All Stars "Inventor" Scott Galt Leon "Smooth" Edwards 2025 Exodus "Too Own Way" Jason ‘Shaft’ Bishop, Scott Galt, Michael Hulsmeier Terrance “BJ” Marcelle 2026 Exodus "Cyah Behave" Aaron ‘Voice’ St.Louis, Dwayne Mendes, Kerwin Du Bois Terrance “BJ” Marcelle