In 1999, in the absence of a solid, supportive community from which a steady flow of members could be guaranteed, Gemonites gave birth to the first of two major brainstorm projects – a School of Pan.

For the first time in perhaps a long time, people of all ages and from all walks of life were given the opportunity to be tutored in both music theory and the techniques required to play the pan. Quite remarkably, the general public warmly embraced the School, registering an average of 60 people yearly ever since.

Some of the first students have since graduated into the Gemonites orchestra membership and have matured into regular Panorama and festival performers.

Needing an avenue to showcase the potential of the blossoming pannists, Gemonites then produced their single largest project to date – “Moods of Pan”.

Beginning as a single concert in November 1999, “Moods of Pan” thrilled an Antiguan audience that had been starved of top-drawer steelpan entertainment for many years. The awesome talent of popular Trinidadian arranger & soloist Len “Boogsie” Sharpe was a fitting climax and brought the satisfied crowd to their feet in awe and ovation.

In 2000, Moods of Pan was developed into a three-day weekend festival, with concerts on the Friday and Sunday featuring the Samaroo Jets, “Boogsie” Sharpe, de Original Defosto and Ken “Professor” Philmore, and the introduction of arguably the biggest little steelband competition in the world – “Keep Pan Alive with Five”. This competition, now more affectionately known as “Five-Alive” gives good entertainment value for money and is guaranteed to be action-packed.

Five-Alive rules are kept simple: five members perform a five-minute arrangement of a specially selected artiste or group being honored that year. Out of a total of 100 points the criteria allow only 70 points maximum for musical quality while the other, often controversial, 30 points are awarded for performance and crowd response.

A group of energetic debutantes from Gemonites calling themselves “Musical Youth” captured the inaugural Five-Alive competition in 2000 with a sparkling rendition of Kitchener’s “Flag Woman”.

Featuring in Moods of Pan Festival 2001 were Ken “Professor” Philmore, Andy Narell, the Samaroo Jets, Lord Relator and comedian Sprangalang. Once again “Musical Youth” overwhelmed the Five-Alive audience and successfully defended their championship with their version of Shortshirt’s “Tourist Leggo”.

Working in conjunction with Jolly Beach Resort in 2002, Gemonites further expanded “Moods of Pan” to a four-day festival. The sophisticated “Pan Classic” to start the festival was a welcome addition and highlighted the Samaroo Jets, Andy Narell, Robert Greenidge, the T& T Defence Force Steel Orchestra, Relator and Sprangalang. “Musical Youth” were dethroned and the Five-Alive crown went a veteran group, “3+2-2+2”, portraying the western theme of their Mighty Swallow selection “Pow Pow”.

In 2003, the all-star cast of Robert Greenidge, the Mighty Sparrow, Liam Teague, Arturo Tappin, Len “Boogsie” Sharpe, Pelham Goddard, Gary Bridges and comedian Errol Fabian ensured that Moods of Pan Festival 2003 lived up to its name. And to cap it all off the incredible “Musical Youth” blew away all opposition to re-capture the Five-Alive title. Their arrangement of Sparrow’s “Jean & Dinah” (and Rosita & Clementina)” was portrayed with the most remarkable of gender-reversals conceivable. You had to be there to see it for yourself.

Other artistes to have graced the “Moods of Pan” stage include the National Youth Pan Orchestra, Claudette Peters, Aubrey “Lacou” Samuel, Victor “Babu” Samuel, Rawdon Edwards, Johnny Gonsalves, Jerry Lawrence, “Congo”, the Cathedral Youth Choir, Gemonites School of Pan, AMP Halcyon, Harmonites, Harmonites School of Pan, Jace Pryce, Curtis “CC” Cochrane, CaribSounds and Eddie Nias & friends.

Now celebrating its sixth anniversary, Moods of Pan Festival 2004 is taking on a new mood. The festival will run from November 25th – 28th and for the first time will be dominated by local, regional and international steel orchestras.

This year, the festival opens with a free sneak-preview concert on “Thrilling Thursday”, November 25th, at the Heritage Quay bandstand at 3:00 pm. The music of the Gemonites School of Pan, St. Andrews Steel Orchestra, Calypsociation (Paris), and hosts Gemonites Steel Orchestra should leave the audience eagerly anticipating the festival which has been endorsed by the Ministries of Tourism and Culture.

On “Fiery Friday”, November 26th, Antiguan giants AMP Halcyon and 2004 Antigua Panorama champions Caribseas Harmonites will rub shoulders with Women in Steel (New York), Courts New Dimensions (Grenada), BP Renegades (Trinidad) and Trini comedian Sprangalang at the Deanery Grounds at 8:00 pm.

“Sparkling Saturday”, November 27th, should see stiff competition for the prestigious Five-Alive title as the visiting groups as expected to challenge the regular local groups for the first prize of 2004 EC dollars and the accompanying bragging
rights. Whether or not anyone can dethrone the incomparable “Musical Youth”, a crowd favorite, is left to be seen.

Curtains will come down on the Festival on November 28th with the “Soothing Sunday” concert at the Royal Antiguan Hotel’s Crystal Ballroom. From start (7:00pm) to finish (who knows?), Gemonites, BP Renegades, Calypsociation, Liam Teague, Arturo Tappin, Joy Lapps ( a Toronto-based Antiguan performer), Gavin Francis & Imran Lewis (two young Antiguan soloists), and the outrageous Sprangalang will mesmerize you and leave you begging for an encore.

As a private venture by the Gemonites Steel Orchestra, “Moods of Pan” would not have be possible without the continued support of some wonderful corporate citizens such as Platinum Sponsors Jolly Beach Resort, ABIB, Observer Radio, LIAT, BWIA, AT&T Wireless, Virgin Atlantic, Antigua & Barbuda Teachers Co-Operative Credit Union (sponsors of Five-Alive), Original Printery and a number of other Gold, Silver, & Bronze Sponsors.

We are deeply appreciative of each and everyone who has given or is giving us solid support – financially, morally and otherwise.

And we look forward to entertaining a packed audience as we present our sixth annual production.