Sion Hill Euphonium out to reclaim Panorama title

The Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra is making no bones about their intention to reclaim what they think is rightfully theirs — the Senior Panorama Championship — in this, the 35th year of the band’s existence.{{more}}

Chair of the band Warren Knights stated such, as he made his presentation at a launch last Monday at the band’s base at Sion Hill Village.

Euphonium won six straight titles from 2009 to 2014, but lost last year to the Starlift Steel Orchestra, and will be banking on Becket’s “Tone” , to make it title number seven.

“The Sion Hill community spirit and pride of winning the top prize, the energy and the vibes that the band brings to the stage cannot be matched by other bands…. The general presentation of the band has always won the hearts and minds of the patrons and the judges…. This year, 2016, is no exception and by God’s grace we will take back what was stolen from us in 2015, so that we can restore the pride and joy of our community as the seven-time national Panorama champions,” Knights boasted.

Knights noted that in order to do so, the band has an operational cost of $60,000 which must be financed.

“An invitation is extended to all business houses that have not yet come on board to partner with us in this important youth development programme…. To all our sponsors who have come to our assistance, we thank you very much for sharing our vision and for being a good corporate citizen.”

The band has been without a title sponsor for some time now and depends on contributions from those entities which possess a social conscience.

This year, Flow, The Mustique Charitable Trust, Arabesque, Mustique Company, Right Stuff, First Caribbean International Bank, St Vincent Brewery Ltd, National Properties Ltd, the East Caribbean Group of Companies, East Caribbean Metals and CK Greaves and Company, have contributed to the Sion Hill Euphonium’s cause.

“Panorama is a true labour of love, as we normally spend a whole to get a half in prizes, this is wrong anyhow you look at it… I am appealing to the Carnival Development Corporation and the Pan against Crime to solicit the necessary funds to better compensate the pan men and pan women…. I am also appealing to the Ministry of Tourism and Culture to make available to the winning Panorama band a trip to North America or Europe to promote St Vincent and the Grenadines… Please show some appreciation to the pan fraternity,” Knights echoed.

Also giving remarks at the launch were parliamentary representative for East Kingstown Arnhim Eustace, Osmond Davy of the East Caribbean Group of Companies and Oneka Morgan, president of the Youlou Pan Movement.

All lauded the efforts of the Sion Euphonium in keeping the steel band art form alive, not only in the community, but in St Vincent and the Grenadines as a whole.(RT)