UK NATIONAL STEELBAND PANORAMA 2019 ROUNDUP - EBONY STEELBAND TRUST

Aug 10

Aug 10 UK NATIONAL STEELBAND PANORAMA 2019 ROUNDUP - EBONY STEELBAND TRUST

Ebony Steel band is Europe’s leading steel band and one of the first steel bands set up in the UK.

The band was founded in 1969 by a group of dedicated Caribbean and British men and women who shared a love of steel bands and steelpan music and wanted to promote steelpan music across the UK and Europe.

With the growth of Ebony Steelband this aim has been increasingly fulfilled. They hold the UK record of being 22 times winner of the UK National Steeband Panorama competition at Notting Hill Carnival – 9 times in succession during the 1990s.

Ebony attained their UK panorama victories in 1983, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017.

In 2005, Ebony was awarded the Queen’s Award for serving the community for over 18 years.

Ebony also delivers a variety of artistic activities and a full range of workshops for people of all ages. Aside from its musical accomplishments, Ebony also is an organisation that also delivers a variety of artistic activities and a full range of workshops for people of all ages. The organisation is based in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea where there is opportunity to work with young people to direct them towards living successful and purposeful lives.

Ebony is also one of the most ‘travelled’ steelband in Europe and they perform throughout the year. Their performances abroad include two trips to the Football World Cup in Germany 2006 and the opening of the Cricket World Cup in Delhi, India. Other performances include venues like the Cannes Film Festival in France as well as trips to Malaysia, Greece, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Ireland, Switzerland, Caribbean Islands and Morocco – the latter being a performance for the Royal Family in the presence of Princess Lalla Salma.

Ebony has participated in the World Steelband festivals in Trinidad & Tobago and in Miami, USA in 2007. The first World Steelband Festival was in October 2000 and held in Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies. It was a great privilege for Ebony to represent Britain at the first world Steelband Festival. Ebony was the only UK Steelband to qualify for the competition, having successfully won the European Steelpan Festival in May 2000 (in France), at which they successfully competed against 19 other Steelbands from across the whole of Europe and returned home victorious and ‘European Steelpan Champions 2000’. The World Steelband Festival 2000 resulted in Ebony being placed 4th; this was a good result for Ebony as it was their first attempt at competing against international bands. This left room for Ebony to improve at the World Steelband Festival 2002 when they returned home victorious being placed 3rd in the world.

Ebony has a real belief in helping its community so the organisation tries its best to support anyone who is involved with any of their programmes. This involves the band doing many charity events, so that Ebony is well known in the community for the band’s positive contribution. The Ebony Steelband Trust offers a safe and friendly environment where people (young and old) can socialise, but at the same time be given discipline and support through music and with life skills. Today Ebony Steelband Trust is a charitable company delivering a whole range of different activities.

This year, Ebony Steelband Trust Panorama band will be made up of ninety players.

Director: Pepe Francis

Manager: Albert Faustine

Arranger: Duvone Stewart

Tuner: Dudley Dickson

Tune of Choice: Trouble in the Morning by Jevaugh ‘V’Ghn’ John.

Ebony 2018 UK National Steelband Panorama: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD2nl6zRqd8

Ebony Steelband Trust can be contacted on the following email address and telephone number: 020 7266 4375/services@ebony.org.uk

Website: http://www.ebony-steelband-trust.co.uk

There are six steelbands vying for the title this year, Mangrove – the reigning champions, Ebony, Metronomes, CSO, Pan Nation and Phase One.

The event is hosted by NHC/BAS, and will be held on the 24thAugust 2019 at the Emslie Horiman’s Pleasance Park, Kensal Road, London W10.

The gates open at 6:00p.m. and the competition starts at 7:00p.m.