GPF wins Mash Steel Band Competition

Feb 16, 2010 News

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) band in an awesome performance thrilled the crowd and gave them something to jump and shout about. In the end, the band walked away with the winning prize in the small band category in the Republic Bank-sponsored Mashramani Pan-O-Rama steelband competition.
For its effort the band won $450,000 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall Avenue Homestretch Avenue, D’Urban Park Georgetown Sunday last.
Coming second in the small band category was Parkside Steel Orchestra followed by Roots and Culture.
The competition was staged in four categories: – Soloist, Pan Duet, School Band and Small Band.
Republic Bank invested $2.4M in the competition, which was a stimulus to the event which advanced the development of Steel Band and the rejuvenation of the event.
The Junior Solo category was won by Desmond Long. He was followed by Michael Smith Jr. and Tumona Bailey.
The senior solo category was dominated by Colgrain Whyte (a pannist prayer). He was trailed by Clayton Daniels (Countryside) and thirdly Jovanka Williams.
Colgrain Whyte teamed up with Troy Hunte (Glanda) in the Pan Duet Category to win the first prize. Clayton Daniel and Ryan Lewis (Oh beautiful Guyana) and Michael Smith and Amanda Noel (Let us Co-operate) won the runner-up prizes. In the school band category there were only two competitors. North Ruimveldt came out on top over Bishops’ High.
The panel of five judges comprised of Oliver Basdeo, a professional musician for over 30 years; Andrea Mentore – a music teacher attached to Dewars’ Music School; Captain Robert Burns- a former Director of Music; Clyde Thierens aka Ayambo – a former Calypso Monarch; and Dr. Prashanthi Mendis – a lawyer and ethnomusicologist and an accomplished musician.

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