UK NATIONAL STEELBAND PANORAMA 2023 ROUNDUP – EBONY STEEL BAND TRUST
Ebony Steelband Trust 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 23 times winner of the UK National Steelband Panorama competition at Notting Hill Carnival – 9 times in succession during the 1990s between 1991 – 1999 with musical arranger, Anise ‘Halfers’ Hadeed. This feat has never been equalled in any steelband panorama competition worldwide. Halfers has held that accolade since 1999.
Duvone Stewart, their musical arranger is a cultural ambassador for Trinidad and Tobago is an avid supporter of the steelpan movement, he is also the founder and creative director of the Steelpan Chronicles Talk Show. Duvone has been with Ebony since 2015.
Duvone at the recent Pan Jazz concert in Holland Park Opera Arena.
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 and 2022. They achieved 2nd place in 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1990, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2011, 2018 and 2021. Ebony Steelband also achieved 3rd place in 1979, 1985 and 2019. This means that Ebony Steelband Trust has achieved a place on the winner’s podium 37 times for a competition that has been in existence for 44 years with no panorama in 2020 owing to Covid.
Cerise and Tafari in the Engine Room.
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 is also an organisation that 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 performing at the UK Panorama 2022.
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.
Leason Jacobs and Ebony’s Engine Room
This year, Ebony Steelband Panorama band will be made up of eighty players.
Director: Pepe Francis
Manager: Albert Faustine
Arranger: Duvone Stewart
Tuner: Dudley Dickson
Tune of Choice: Engine Room by Olatungi.
Ebony Steelband Trust can be contacted on the following email address and telephone number: 020 7266 4375/services@ebony.org.uk
Ebony players enjoying their music.
There are seven steelbands vying for the title this year, Ebony – the reigning champions, Mangrove, Metronomes, CSO, Pan Nation, Real Steel and Southside Harmonics.
The event is hosted by NHC/BAS, and will be held on the 26th August 2023 at the Emslie Horiman’s Pleasance Park, Kensal Road, London W10 5EG.
The gates open at 4:00p.m. and the event ends at 12:00 a.m.
Tickets are available online @ nhcarnival.org/panorama.
Tickets: £20
Children - £7
Children under five accompanied with an adult - Free
