Steelpan takes centre stage in Trinidad and Tobago Carnival 2024

The Minister of Tourism of Trinidad and Tobago Randall Mitchell expressed his pride to witness the prominent role that the steelpan has played in Carnival 2024.

Throughout the carnival, the high level of participation and high quality of production displayed by musicians in this year’s Panorama and outstanding patronage of the season’s events made the carnival a huge success.

This year’s theme, “Come Home to the Rhythms of Steel: Feel it! Love it! Share it!” embodied the spirit of the competition as the festivities have, thus far, been an energizing and patriotic display for locals to enjoy and a show-stopping welcoming gift to our foreign visitors.

Since the launch of Panorama in November 2023, patrons have been able to savour dynamic performances throughout the Single-Pan Competitions as well as the Small, Medium and Large Steel Orchestra Competitions that have taken place nationwide.

This season has seen a rise in participation, with over 8000 steelpan players. This demonstrates a marked increase in youth and community participation in this local art form and is a testament to the tremendous commitment that local musicians are directing towards taking Trinidad and Tobago’s indigenous music to the global stage.

The season has also seen large numbers of patrons at ticketed events as well as at the various panyard crawls, many of whom were international tourists and visiting members of the diaspora. Of note was the reaction of American Actress, Phylicia Rashad, during a trip to a local pan yard. Rashad was blown away by the magnificence, science, musicology, discipline and joy of the steelpan. [caption id="attachment_67826" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Hollywood actress Phylicia Rashad immerses in Trinbago Carnival experience
(PC - Facebook)[/caption]

She also commented on the diversity of the sound and the unparalleled energy that players demonstrate when playing together as one. World-famous Ghanaian travel Vlogger Wode Maya also savoured a visit to the West Side Symphony Steel Orchestra during his trip to Trinidad and Tobago in late 2023, as well as scores of Cruise Ship passengers who verbalized their contentment with the quality of the music exuding from our local instrument.

Minister Mitchell said that the Ministry continues to be a proud supporter of Panorama 2024 and commends Pan Trinbago and corporate sponsors for continuing to collaborate with the Government to boost cultural confidence and promote international respect for and youth involvement in the Steelpan movement.