National Junior Panorama Results 2017

Member of the St Francois Girls’ College celebrate with the secondary school’s trophy at the National Junior Panorama finals at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, yesterday.
PHOTO: ANISTO ALVES

After two years of being the bridesmaid in their attempt to regain the junior Panorama title once more, St Margaret’s Boys’ Anglican School did so in fine style yesterday at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, copping their tenth win in the competition.

The young pan players scored 277 points, three more than second placed St Paul’s Boys’ Anglican and 3.5 more than third placed St Mary’s Government Primary School.

Last year, the Belmont-based school placed second and with nine wins prior, they were hungry for the tenth in their 15-year in the competition. As they were announced the winners, a clear favourite by the crowd, the youngsters, bolstered by their parents and teachers, shrieked with joy.

After the joyful storm, principal Colette Perez said her school had been looking for the elusive tenth win since winning nine consecutive years beginning in 2006 and ending when St Paul’s Boys’ Anglican beat them by 20 points in 2015.

Perez said although they were dethroned back then, they had always in the top three since, so it was still comforting to know that her boys were making an impression.

That impression, according to former teacher Jacqueline Moore-Henry, is that when it comes to primary schools, St Margaret’s is the school to beat having set a high standard. Past student now arranger Carel Taylor said the win was as a result of hard work and focus. In his second year arranging for the school, he said he wanted something different and chose 5Star Akil’s Different Me.

Taylor and Moore-Henry added that what made the school unique was the fact that they have been playing on the same pans since they began competing in the event, with just one or two improvements.

Last year’s winners, Tacarigua Presbyterian, placed eighth.

Like the primary school category, yesterday’s winner of the secondary school competition, St Francois Girls’ College, had vowed to return the trophy to their school.

Supported by Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts, Dr Nyan Gadsby Dolly, a former student, they did just that with a sixth lien on the title.

With just three weeks of training, the girls were able to rack up 275 points, beating out the nearest contender, Bishop Anstey and Trinity College East (BATCE) Steel Orchestra by nine points. Defending champions St Joseph’s Convent, St Joseph, took third spot with 258 points.

St Francois drill master Aaron Pereira said his students were sceptical at first, but after two days they began to see progress and with the support of relatives and teachers they put in endless work to retain the title. The college also boasts of being the first ever winner of the secondary school Junior Panorama in 1979.

Handing over the trophy to principal Jennifer Gittens, arranger Peter Aleong said he was fulfilling a promise to give her five wins. He did so from 2011 to 2013 and again in 2015. Placing fourth last year, Aleong improved on the girls skills and with the help of Edwin “Crazy” Ayoung as flagman yesterday, won with Gee Gee Ree, also sung by Crazy.

Captain of the team, Nefetari Bacchus, said she felt honoured to be the one who led the team back to the top spot, while Gittens thanked Ayoung for his commitment to the team. But Aleong said now that he had fulfilled his promise of five wins, he was not sure if he would remain at St Francois for another year.

The winners of the competition for both categories won $20,000 and a challenge trophy. Second and third place won $18,000 and $16,000 respectively, while the remaining places each took home $6,000. In all, 21 bands participated, 12 primary schools and nine secondary schools.

Information Provided by: http://www.guardian.co.tt