REPUBLIC Bank Exodus is the 2025 National Panorama large band conventional winner. The Tunapuna-based band won the title after an over 20-year drought.
Exodus' arrangement of Aaron “Voice” St Louis' Too Own Way earned 288 points at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain on March 1.
The band last won the competition in 2004 playing the late The Original De Fosto’s Pandora.
Manager Ainsworth Mohammed became emotional trying to explain how it felt to win after two decades.
He said to media following the results, “This is just fantastic. I was always positive.”
[caption id="attachment_1141941" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Members of Republic Bank Exodus celebrate after being named winners of the Panorama large-band final, Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain, on March 1. Exodus performed Too Own Way by Aaron "Voice" St Louis to score 288 points for it's first Panorama victory in the last 20 years. - Photo by Jeff K. Mayers[/caption]
He said even though the band led the preliminaries and the semifinals, it was the finals that mattered. He could not verbalise what the win meant after 21 years with tears quickly filling his eyes.
“I know this time there was no way they could have stopped it.”
Rehearsals were the key to the band's win, he added.
The band plans to celebrate in many ways, he said.
Asked if the band could do it again in 2026, Mohammed said certainly and that there were plans to win for the next 21 years.
[caption id="attachment_1141949" align="alignnone" width="1024"] From left: NCC CEO Keiba Mottley, Pan Trinbago president Beverley Ramsey-Moore, Exodus manager Ainsworth Mohammed, Culture Minister Randall Mitchell, Exodus captain Julie Williams and Tunapuna MP show of the winning trophies at the Panorama large-band final, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, on March 1. Exodus scored 288 points to take it’s first victory in the last 20 years. - Photo by Jeff K. Mayers[/caption]
The 2024 joint winners bp Renegades and Massy Trinidad All Stars went separate ways. Renegades placed second with 285 points for its arrangement of Machel Montano’s Bet Meh. Its arranger Duvone Stewart rode in on a horse to illustrate Bet Meh. All Stars placed eight, also playing Bet Meh, with 279 points.
Exodus denied bp Renegades its dream of accomplishing a hat-trick in the competition after having won in 2023 and 2024.
San Fernando’s Heritage Petroleum Skiffle Steel Orchestra received 283 points with its arrangement of Voice's Retro to place third.
[caption id="attachment_1141936" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Arranger Duvone Stewart leads members of bp Renegades as they perform Machel Montano's Bet Meh at the Panorama large-band final, Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain, on March 1. Renegades placed second with 285 points. - Photo by Jeff K. Mayers[/caption]
First Citizens Supernovas Steel Orchestra’s version of Kes’ Cocoa Tea earned fourth place with 282 points.
There were ties in the sixth and ninth place which resulted in a strong reaction from the audience when results were anno
