by Eulana Weekes
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): Mr. Nevin Roach – Founder and CEO of PanoGrama Entertainment, informed WINN FM of his organisation’s decision to pause PanoGrama as it transitions from virtual operations to a hybrid model.
“We are looking to host participants in one country for part of the competition, where, in addition to the performances, we can add cultural exchange, community outreach, and other components and activities which we think would help to produce well-rounded pannists. The ‘Knowledge for Success’ development series will be restructured and expanded to include digital marketing, among other topics.”
PanoGrama, a solo steel pan competition, was born three years ago during the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic, which only allowed for virtual stagings of the event within that period. Roach said his team, under the circumstances, were able to build a successful platform that continuously captivated the global steelpan community.
Roach said, “My team and I have done a great job with the platform to date. We have not only seen tremendous growth with the competition but also with many of the young participants who we try to impact in a positive way. I think now is the right time to step back for a bit to re-imagine the competition for the benefit of the participants and other major stakeholders.”
In 2022, St. Kitts and Nevis was represented for the first time at PanoGrama by Mr. Aaron Mentos, a national who resides in the United States; and Roach, in an interview with WINN FM, said he is looking forward to more representation from the Federation.
Most recently, following the 2022 hosting of the Sugar Mas 51 Panorama Competition in St.Kitts, Roach pledged to contribute to the steelpan music art form in any possible way.
Roach, a Tobagonian, expressed that a day does not go by where he is not aware of how fortunate he is to live a life which encompasses performing, composing, arranging, teaching, and adjudicating.
He added that he and his team at PanoGrama Entertainment are passionate about the holistic development of all the competition’s participants and their general well-being.
Meanwhile, pannists from St. Kitts and Nevis and other countries who are eager to participate in PanoGrama will get that opportunity when the event resumes in 2025.
