Six of SVG’s pan sides team up for grand concert

Organisers of the Christmas on Steel concert say that the mass pan orchestra was well received by patrons who gathered at the Solidarity Car Park for the annual event.{{more}}

The showcase, organized by the Youlou Pan Movement, took place on Sunday evening, and featured six of the country’s pan sides, who for the first time, performed as one.

The evening began with the each side performing a repertoire of local, regional and international hits, which was well received by pan lovers and patrons.

The individual presentations were followed by the performance of two pieces, arranged by renowned musician and arranger Ashley Kirby.

Under Kirby’s direction, the mass orchestra played Johann Sebastian Bach’s composition “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” followed by the traditional piece “We wish you a merry Christmas.”

The appreciative crowd demanded an encore, with which the orchestra complied. President of the Youlou Pan Movement Oneka Morgan said that close to 100 pan players participated in the exercise, which is the first of its kind at that scale.

She told SEARCHLIGHT that the organization hopes to have a similar function next year, and thanked all who helped to make the event a success and the patrons who turned out for the event.

The pan sides involved in the operation were Sion Hill Euphonium, Starlift Steel Orchestra, New Dimensions Steel Orchestra, South East Steel Orchestra, Vitamalt Symphonix and Potential Steel Orchestra.

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