North Ruimveldt Multilateral is winner for 10th time
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North Ruimveldt Multilateral is winner for 10th time
- Banks Invaders cops large band prizeBy Michael DaSilva
Stabroek News
February 23, 2000
Defending champions North Ruimveldt Multilateral School carted off the Mash 2000 School's Steel Band Competition for the 10th time on Monday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. For their virtuoso performance, the band will receive $150,000 in prize money and a trophy.
And Banks DIH Invaders copped the large band category for yet another year, while Pan Groove won in the small band category. A $350,000 cash prize was at stake in the large band category and the small band category first prize was $200,000.
The Central Assemblies of God Church Band were declared winners in the Church Band category while Republican Steel Orchestra carted off the Jazz Combo event.
Colgrain Whyte successfully defended the Ping Pong Soloist category.
Central Assemblies won $150,000 for placing first while Republican took home $200,000 and Whyte $50,000.
Dressed in red T-shirts, with their North Ruimveldt Multilateral school emblem In gold, and black trousers, the defending champions belted out R.C.G. Potter's national song `Way down Demerara' much to the delight of the appreciative audience which included mostly parents.
They started their test piece using the original rhythm, but switched to waltz. Immediately the crowd applauded and after playing another stanza, they changed to jazz, reverted to waltz and subsequently to the original.
Their performance was great but when the judges' decision was announced, it did not go down too well with some sections of the audience.
Prior to their appearance, Silver Sonics of President's College appeared first in this category with a 13-member band, 10 of whom were females, and like North Ruimveldt they had good beat variation but their pans sounded as though they needed a bit more tonal quality.
They ended fourth of the five bands that contested the category.
Bishops' High School ended last.
The New Opportunity Corps, Guyana National Service, which comprised 16 members (seven females) stole the hearts of the audience with their uniforms. They were attired in white long-sleeved shirts, black trousers and red bow ties and cumberbunds.
Their rendition of the test piece was immaculately put together and they mixed their rhythm with waltz, jazz, kaiso and polka. Although a crowd favourite, they unfortunately had to settle for second place securing the $100,000 prize.
The third place prize of $75,000 went to Nu-Generation Pan School whom everyone except the judges thought were clear winners. They were dressed in tie dye T-shirts and dark trousers and received loud applause before they even took up their positions.
As band conductor Colgrain Whyte changed from music style to style, the crowd applauded. They started with the original version, changed to jazz, then to kaiso and back to the original version, but could not do better than third.
There was some disappointment in the large band category where only two bands - Banks Invaders and Police - competed. The decision by the judges did not go down too well as some felt that Police had done enough to ensure victory.
Some argued that while Police played all four stanzas of the test piece `My Guyana El Dorado', Banks did not and so should not have won.
Police's variation during the four stanzas included the original version, jazz and kaiso while the three stanzas that Invaders played had waltz, folk, march timing and the original version. Police had to settle for the $250,000 second prize.
Of the two church bands that contested that category, Central Assemblies were clear-cut winners even before they had completed their rendition of the test piece `How great thou art'. Their variation, tonal quality and exactness of pitch were outstanding and so too was the crowd response. For gaining the second spot, the Nazarene Church's Bridge Builders took home $100,000.
Five persons contested the Ping Pong Soloist category where Michael Smith placed second to Whyte and Kurleigh Smith third. Whyte played `A tribute to steel pan martyrs'.
Five bands contested the Pan Jazz category and the five-member Angel Harps who are originally from Banks Invaders settled for second behind Republicans who played `Twisting the night away' as they kept the crowd clapping and singing along. Angel Harps received $75,000 for their efforts while The Mathadores who finished third took home $50,000.
Republicans also placed second in the small band category and won for themselves $150,000 while City Jammers (Mayor and City Council) had to be content with the third prize of $100,000.
The judges for the church band, ping- pong soloist and schools competition were Lydia Griffith, Oliver Pross, Sonny Ault and Archie Webb while the judges for the pan jazz, small and large bands were Ault, Proctor, Victor James, Vivian Daniels and Trinidadian Bobby Mohammed. The chief judge was Elton Briggs.
