Pantonic Steel Orchestra (PSO) is a community steel band, affiliated to the British Association of Steelbands (BAS); meeting the artistic development, education and creative needs of a group of young people. The orchestra has been established since 1988 by a small group of committed steel pan enthusiasts, joint managers Ezekiel ‘Biggs’ Yearwood and Raymond Joseph and co-ordinated for the first year by Anslem Samuel, took the band into the London Panorama in the same year. ‘Biggs’ was the orchestra’s tuner with Raymond being responsible for the musical arrangement. Sadly, Raymond passed away in 1992 but ‘Biggs’ continued with the help of his son, Grafton and Sam Springer (former Mayor of Hackney).
The orchestra was originally based in the Hackney area for the first two years and then moved to Islington in the north east of London in 1990. PSO has also employed the services of Pedro Burgess, Ian Beckles and Daniel Louis as musical arrangers.
PSO is now in its thirteen year and has now relocated to West Ham in east London after being based in Islington for eight years. Their repertoire which include an extensive range of musical genres such as Soca, Calypso, Classical, RnB, Jazz, Reggae, Pop, European and African, Asian and Latin rhythms. Pantonic organise pan workshops for interested individuals/parties and are keen to work with community groups and schools.
Anslem Samuel was appointed the band’s manager in 1999 prior to their relocation to West Ham. A new committee was formed and later a Players’ committee, both meet bi-monthly with updates on the orchestra’s decisions/plans cascaded to all players and supporters.
The group is a highly disciplined group of musicians who practice weekly throughout the year with practice sessions increasing in frequency and intensity during the period leading up to the annual Notting Hill Carnival. The orchestra consists of multicultural young people of various ages. Although many players have come and gone due to various commitments, the band has always retained a core membership of committed competent players enabling the band to maintain its high standard of performance.
Through the dedication and energy of its members, PSO has been successful at competitive levels in the National Panorama competition achieving 2nd place in 1994 and 1995 and has performed widely throughout England and France, to generate funds for charitable causes and to maintain the band. Previous performances include the Notting Hill Carnival, accompanying the London Orpheus Choir, the National Festival of Steel Bands, Suesnes Twin Town Festival in France and several Carnivals and Festivals throughout England.
Pantonic is continually seeking to attract new sponsors and have been sponsored in the past by Ford Motor Company, Co-Op Retail Services, Baring Securities, Walkers Crisps, Lea Valley Park, Everton Forbes Travel and Shipping and Advance Rewinds. Pantonic is continuously growing and always welcome those interested in learning and playing the steelpan instruments. To contact them please email pantonic@panpodium.com or call Dimples on 07949 937466, Grafton on 07801 497794 or Sam on 0208 340 0862.