Honouring Excellence and Legacy: Pan Trinbago Hosts Grand Steelband Champions Ceremony and Prize Distribution

The spirit of national pride and musical excellence echoed loudly on April 15, 2025, as Pan Trinbago, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, hosted the Steelband Champions Prize Distribution Ceremony at the Radisson Hotel, Port of Spain.

The event recognized outstanding achievements across the 2024 National Steelband Music Festival — Steelpan is More Beautiful: Canopeum Amoris, and Panorama 2025 — Steelpan Fuh So: Unleash D Power, along with the winners of the J’ouvert Monday Bomb and the King of the Road competition.

With over 300 guests in attendance, including senior Government officials, the Steelpan Ambassadors corporate sponsors, Steelband members, and cultural stakeholders, the ceremony was a fitting tribute to the national instrument and those who champion its cause.
Nearly TT$25 million was distributed in prizes and player remittances. Over TT$4.4 million was allocated to 5,551 registered steelpan players, along with TT$2.3 million disbursed as Steelband support during the Panorama season. 

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Celebrating the Champions: Festival and Panorama Excellence

The evening celebrated the finest in steelpan artistry.
Steelpan is More Beautiful 2024 – Canopeum Amoris saw top awards handed out to the finalists in:

Single Pan Bands

     Pan Elites - 8^th Place 

     Trinidad and Tobago East Side Symphony - 7^th Place 

     Nostrand Symphony - 6^th Place 

     Trinidad and Tobago Police Service - 5^th Place 

     Platinum - 4^th Place Champions

     La Famille United - 3^rd Place 

     Chord Masters - 2^nd Place 

     Uni Stars - 1^st Place 

1.     Ensemble Bands

     Alumknights - 6^th Place 

     Phoenix - 5th Place 

     Alpha Pan Pioneers - 4^th Place 

     Hilltoppers Steelpan Academy - 3^rd Place 

     St Margaret’s Super Stars - 2^nd Place 

     Golden Hands - 1^st Place 

           

3.             Orchestra Bands

     Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille - 8^th Place 

     T&TEC Tropical Angel Harps Steel Orchestra - 6^th Place (tie)

     Pan Elders Steel Orchestra - 6^th Place (tie)

     Proman Starlift Steel Orchestra - 5^th Place 

     Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra - 4^th Place 

     Katzenjammers Steel Orchestra - 3^rd Place 

     NGC Couva Joylanders Steel Orchestra - 2^nd Place 

     Republic Bank Exodus - 1^st Place Champion

 

Simultaneously, Panorama 2025 – Steelpan Fuh So: Unleash D Power recognized the champions across all conventional band categories:  Junior (Under 21), Single Pan, Small, Medium, and Large.

1.     Panorama 2025 - Junior Panorama - 21 & Under Category

     Phase II Pan Groove Junior Steel Orchestra - 11^th Place (tie)

     Birdsong Academy - 11^th Place(tie)

     Hilltoppers Steelpan Academy - 8^th Place (tie)

     RBC Redemption Sound Setters Youth Academy - 8^th Place (tie)

     Heritage Petroleum Siparia Deltones Juniors Steel Orchestra- 8^th Place (tie)

     Fonclaire Juniors - 7^th Place

     Desperadoes Youth Steel Orchestra - 6^th Place

     First Citizens Supernovas Youth Steel Orchestra - 2^nd Place (tie)

     T&TEC Tropical Angel Harps Youth Steel Orchestra - 2^nd Place (tie)

     Trinidad All Stars Youth Steel Orchestra - 2^nd Place (tie)

     Shell Invaders Youth Steel Orchestra - 2^nd Place (tie)

     Bp Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra - 1^st Place

 

2.     Panorama 2025 Small Conventional Band Category

 

            Road Block Steel Orchestra - 14^th Place

     Panosonic Connection - 13^th Place

     St. Margaret’s Super Stars - 12^th Place

     Arima Golden Symphony - 11^th Place

     First Citizens Tobago Pan-Thers - 9^th Place (tie)

     Trinidad And Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra - 9^th Place (tie)

     Tokyo Steel Orchestra - 5^th Place (tie)

     Todd's Road Rhythem Raiders - 5^th Place (tie)

     Uptown Fascinators - 5^th Place (tie)

     Fascinators Pan Symphony - 5^th Place (tie)

     Fusion Steel - 4^th Place

     Southern Stars Steel Orchestra (D' south Band) - 3^rd Place

     Golden Hands - 1^st Place (tie)

     T&TEC New East Side Dimension - 1^st Place (tie)

 

3.     Panorama 2025: Medium Conventional Band Finals

 

             Curepe Scherzando Steel Orchestra -9^th Place (tie)

          Sforzata Steel Orchestra - 9^th Place (tie)

          Dixieland Steel Orchestra - 8^th Place

          Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille- 6^th Place (tie)

          Arima Angel Harps -6^th Place (tie)

          NGC La Brea Nightingales - 5^th Place

          Pamberi Steel Orchestra - 3^rd Place (tie)

                   NGC Couva Joylanders - 3^rd Place (tie)

          Pan Elders Steel Orchestra - 2^nd Place

          Katzenjammers Steel Orchestra - 1^st Place 

 

4.     Panorama 2025: Large Conventional Bands

 

     RBC Redemption Sound Setters Steel Orchestra - 9^th Place

     Shell Invaders Steel Orchestra - 9^th Place

     Massy Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra - 8^th Place

     T&TEC Tropical Angel Harps Steel Orchestra - 6^th Place

     Nutrien Silver Star Steel Orchestra - 6^th Place

     Phase II Pan Groove - 5^th Place

     First Citizens Supernovas Steel Orchestra - 4^th Place

     Heritage Petroleum Skiffle Steel Orchestra - 3^rd Place

     Bp Renegades Steel Orchestra - 2^nd Place

           Republic Bank Exodus - 1^st Place

 

1.      Eastern Region J’ouvert Monday Bomb Competition 

Non-Calypso: Single Pan Bands        

       Pan Stereonettes Steel Orchestra - 5^th Place

       Royal Stars Pan Symphony - 4^th Place

       East Phonics Steel Orchestra - 3rd Place

       Trinidad Nostalgic Steel Orchestra - 2^nd Place

       Arima All Stars Steel Orchestra - 1^st Place 

Conventional Bands

     Simple Song Steel Orchestra - 5^th Place

     Northolus Steel Orchestra - 4^th Place

     Arima Angel Harps Steel Orchestra - 3^rd Place

     Arima Golden Symphony Steel Orchestra - 2^nd Place

     Augmented Groove Steel Orchestra - 1^st Place

 

 

2.      King of the Road Calypso & Soca: Victoria Square, Port Spain

Single Pan Bands 

       Belmont Hi-Larks - 5^th Place

       D Veterans - 4^th Place

      Laventille Pashphonics - 3^rd Place

      StarDust - 2^nd Place

      Royal Stars Pan Symphony - 1^st Place

            Conventional Bands (King of the Road)

     Musical Gems – 6^th Place

     Desperadoes – 5^th Place

     Massy Trinidad All Stars – 4^th Place

     Proman Starlift – 3^rd Place

     Phase II Pan Groove – 2^nd Place

     Bp Renegades – 1^st Place

 

3.      The Neville Jules J’ouvert Bomb Competition

          Single Pan Bands

     Belmont Hi-Larks - 5^th Place

     D Veterans - 4^th Place

     Stardust - 3^rd Place

     Royal Stars Pan Symphony - 2^nd Place

     Laventille Pashphonics - 1^st Place

 

Conventional Bands

      Musical Gems – 6^th Place

      Massy Trinidad All Stars – 5^th Place

      Phase II Pan Groove – 4^th Place

      Desperadoes – 3^rd Place

      BP Renegades – 2^nd Place

      Proman Starlift – 1^st Place

 

This dual celebration reflected not only the skill and perseverance of Trinidad and Tobago’s steelpan musicians but also the revival and rejuvenation of traditional competitions under Pan Trinbago's leadership.

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A Night of Pride, Reflection, and Commitment

Pan Trinbago’s President Beverley Ramsey-Moore delivered an emotional and heartfelt address.
Speaking directly to Prime Minister Stuart Young, she acknowledged the lasting legacy of his father, Richard Young, a former Managing Director of Scotiabank and a true “pan jumbie” who, alongside former Vice President (Pan Trinbago) Keith Simpson, championed the cause of unsponsored Steelband’s by ensuring grants were provided annually.

"Your father was there for over 65 Steelband’s every year," Ramsey-Moore said. "He sowed the seeds so that today you could reap the benefits of the Steelband community by supporting you in the fight."

She emphasized Pan Trinbago’s deep appreciation for leaders who supported pan at the grassroots level:
"We pay attention to who stands with us and we have seen you. You are a leader concerned about the grassroots young people, and we will always remember that," she said.

President Ramsey-Moore also expressed profound gratitude to former Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley for his decisive contributions to the steelpan movement, including:

1. Reviving the National Steelband Music Festival after an eleven-year hiatus
2. Placing the Steelpan on Trinidad and Tobago’s National Coat of Arms
3. Achieving the formal declaration of the Steelpan as the National Instrument
4. Supporting the United Nations' declaration of World Steelpan Day on August 11

"Pan is more than the music, steelpan is a social force," she declared. "It impacts our lives, our communities, and therefore, we are extremely important to Trinidad and Tobago."

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A Government That Recognizes Pan

Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Randall Mitchell highlighted the collaborative success between Pan Trinbago and the Government.
He celebrated the winners of the Festival and Panorama and emphasized the importance of good governance, accountability, and partnership.

"Tonight, we celebrate the victories of our Steelband’s, but also the remarkable transformation that hard work and accountability have brought to the steelpan movement," he said.

Minister Mitchell reminded the audience, "There is still a lot more we must accomplish," as he urged continuous investment in the creative industries to secure a thriving future for pan.

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The Prime Minister’s Vision for Pan’s Future

Delivering the feature address, Prime Minister Stuart Young passionately underscored the central role of steelpan in national identity.
"Steelpan is ours. We must claim it, we must own it, we must love it, we must market it, we must grow it," he urged.

He reflected on the difficult early days of the steelpan, born in struggle and initially denied formal recognition. Yet, today, he noted, steelpan stands as the only musical instrument created in the 20th century, globally recognized and proudly displayed on Trinidad and Tobago’s Coat of Arms.

He called on all citizens to take ownership of steelpan’s future:
"You are part of something that is extremely important to the DNA and the fabric of who we are as citizens of Trinidad and Tobago."

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Players' Remittance Distribution: Respecting Every Panist

Following the formal ceremony, Pan Trinbago commenced the critical task of distributing players' remittance cheques.

A total of TT$4.4 million was allocated for 5,551 registered players, ensuring that each player whether part of a Single Pan Band or Conventional Band — was fairly compensated.

Ramsey-Moore emphasized the deeper meaning behind the remittances:
"The remittance is more than a cheque, it is recognition. It is a promise fulfilled that says: we see you; we value you, and we honour your contribution to this national treasure."

With strict oversight and transparency mechanisms in place, Pan Trinbago reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, accountability, and player welfare.

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A Day to Remember, A Future to Build

April 15, 2025, marked more than a prize distribution, it marked a moment of national unity, cultural pride, and visionary leadership for the steelpan community.

As Pan Trinbago, Government officials, bands, and players celebrated the victories of the past year, the resounding message was clear:
The sound of the steelpan, born from struggle, forged in pride, will continue to rise, carrying the soul of Trinidad and Tobago to the world.

Special Thanks to all of Our Sponsors.

The Office of the Prime Minister

Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, 

The National Carnival Commission, 

The Prime Ministers Sport and Cultural Fund

Steelpan Ambassadors- bpTT and the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago 

The Tobago House of Assembly

The Heritage Petroleum Company Limited

Atlantic Lng

First Citizens

East Port of Spain Development Company Limited

TTT

The National Lotteries Control Board 

The Kenson Group of Companies

Bmobile

The National Petroleum Marketing Company 

Carib Brewery

Bmobile

The National Flour Mills

Caribbean Airlines

Campari (enjoy the bitter)

The InterAmerican Development Bank 

Labidco

Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited

Angostura -White Oak

CGA