By Lincoln DePradine
Panorama, the competitors held yearly in Toronto to find out the highest metal orchestra in Canada, will probably be hosted at a brand new venue this yr, and will probably be lacking a longtime member-band of the Ontario Steelpan Affiliation (OSA).
The competition, additionally known as “Pan Alive”, is transferring from Lamport Stadium on King Road to Exhibition Place, the place nearly all of occasions of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival organizers are being held this yr.
“The bands are practising laborious. We’re anticipating an thrilling competitors,” OSA president Terrence Wilson advised The Caribbean Digicam.

The competitors could have one much less common band this yr. Absent will probably be St Jamestown Youth Centre Metal Orchestra that was managed for a number of years by former OSA president, Ken Bhagan. He died final December 25 at 77.
Pan Fantasy enters this yr’s panorama as defending champions. In 2023, Fantasy – and 4 different steelbands – carried out a rendition of Olatunji’s “Engine Room’’ within the competitors.
For the August 2 panorama championship, the tune of selection by the seven competing bands is extra diversified, Wilson mentioned.
This yr, solely three bands are enjoying the identical tune, “Inventor”, mentioned Wilson.
Prior to now, together with final yr, many musicians and pan supporters criticized Lamport Stadium as a lower than acceptable venue for internet hosting panorama.
Wilson has described Exhibition Place as “workable”, and permitting for improvements reminiscent of having steelbands wheel their pans onto the stage.
“It’s very workable with restricted changes for our present,’’ mentioned Wilson. “We’re working with the bands and making an attempt to get them as cellular as potential.’’
One other innovation to the Toronto occasion will probably be establishing a pre-performance space on the competitors web site, much like what’s identified at Trinidad’s panorama as “The Drag”.
“Will probably be a stationary level and, whereas one band is organising, one other band might be rehearsing and warming up,’’ Wilson defined. “And, the patrons could have entry to go to the bands after which return to their seats at any time. We’ve already executed the draw as to how the bands will probably be enjoying.”
The bands will seem within the following order: New Dimension; Forest Creek; Silhouettes; Panatics; Afropan; Pan Masters; and Pan Fantasy within the last slot. Pna Fantasy has gained each OSA-organized panorama since 2012. The COVID-19 pandemic compelled the cancellation of the Toronto panoramas of 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Panorama 2024 “goes to be very, very fascinating”, Wilson reiterated.
Trinidad-based Supernovas Metal Orchestra will probably be in Toronto in the course of the carnival celebrations and will probably be a visitor performer on the panorama and at one other occasion of OSA, “Pan In D Park”.
Supernovas was fashioned in 2010 underneath the management of Amrit Samaroo, son of the well-known Renegades Metal Orchestra arranger, the late Jit Samaroo.
In 2014, Supernovas gained Trinidad and Tobago’s panorama within the “Small Band Class”.
Two years later, within the “Massive Band Class”, Supernovas positioned second to Desperadoes Metal Orchestra.
One characteristic of Pan In D Park will probably be a “Bomb Tune” competitors amongst metal orchestras. Every would play a tune that isn’t a soca or calypso. However, it have to be organized to a calypso rhythm.
Pan In D Park is Sunday, August 4, 2 pm – 10 pm, at Neilson Park, 1555 Neilson Street, Scarborough.