Pan Alive 2026 - Toronto Panorama Results: PanMasters Steel Orchestra Victorious with Arranger Rudo Forteau

PanMasters Steel Orchestra celebrates with championship trophy for
Toronto Panorama Pan Alive 2026 in the early hours of August 1 at
the Lamport Stadium

RESULTS

Toronto, Ontario, Canada –
It was an upset; musical pandemonium reigned at Pan Alive
2026 for the Toronto Panorama, as the last competitor – PanMasters
Steel Orchestra – took the title away from the band that triumphed in
2025, Pan Fantasy
Steelband. The latter was aiming for its twelfth consecutive title;
instead PanMasters clinched the championship when they executed
arranger
Rudo Forteau’s music reenvisioning
the late legendary calypsonian Shadow’s Feeling the Feeling.

Arrangers Al Foster and Rudo Forteau share an embrace after results
were announced at Pan Alive 2026

But it was still one love as the arrangers
for both bands, Forteau and Al Foster embraced mere minutes
after. The steelpan community Diaspora is generally tight-knit so it was
not surprising.

It is the first Panorama championship for PanMasters led
by veteran panman Tommy Crichlow. The first-time collaboration between
New Dimension Steel Orchestra and Tobagonian arranger

Micheal Toby—resident arranger for Redemption Sound
Setters—resulted in third place.

Pan Fantasy Steelband performs at Toronto Panorama Pan Alive 2026 on
July 31 at the Lamport Stadium

Pan indeed came alive for another year at
the Lamport Stadium where the seven steel orchestras of varying
skill sets and sizes took part in the annual steelband music competition. The
scale of the event is much smaller than in Trinidad and Tobago, the home of
Pan; however the art form’s aficionados are just as fervent. Starting
around 8:30 p.m. attendees were first treated to the talents of the Afropan Youth Steel Orchestra
along with other cultural performances, before
the Forest Creek Pathway Steelpan Orchestra officially got the
competitive component underway.

New Dimension Steel Orchestra during its third-place performance at
Toronto Panorama Pan Alive 2026 on July 31

The music flowed through the evening per the
order of
appearance, with penultimate band Pan Fantasy striking up at 11:30 p.m.
and final band and eventual winner PanMasters having their musical say
circa midnight.

PanMasters Steel Orchestra on their way to the Toronto Panorama Pan Alive 2026 championship trophy

The period between the end of the competition and its results was another
musical showcase when ‘all dem Tobago gals’ and guys featured
prominently in

Redemption Sound Setters Steel Orchestra. The steelpan musicians from
Trinidad’s sister isle Tobago struck
up around 12:25 a.m., serving up a music set of almost thirty
minutes, delighting pan music lovers with their varied repertoire. For those who
could not get enough of Redemption’s music, there are a couple more
opportunities to see the group in the coming days including Sunday’s

Pan In D Park and the

Blue Food Blocko on Monday August 3.

Redemption Sound Setters ‘take it away’ for almost half hour before
results were announced for the Toronto Panorama Pan Alive 2026 competition

Shortly before 1:00 a.m. results were ready, and when it became clear
that PanMasters had won, there were hoots, cheers, shouts, high jumps
and hugs all around, tears and triumphant grins as band members, arranger Rudo
Forteau, leader Tommy “Uncle Tommy” Crichlow all took in the moment, and
even more.

For those who were not able to be at the Toronto Panorama in person, one
option to catch the event was via YouTube streamer and cultural activist
Tisha “I
am living My Life.” She facilitated a live stream which started
hours before the competition. Tisha chatted with and informally
interviewed players, pan tuners, steelpan enthusiasts et al, as bands
unpacked instruments and warmed up for competition. The interaction
continued throughout and until the end of the show. As much as possible,
Tisha journeys to various countries to support and showcase carnival and
Caribbean cultural events year-round, wherever there is a contingent
Caribbean Diaspora.

Pan Alive was produced by the
Ontario Steelpan
Association (OSA). Following are the results for Pan Alive 2026 / Toronto Panorama:

Pan Alive 2026
– Toronto Panorama – RESULTS

Placing / Points
Band
Selection/
Performer
Arrangers, Tuners et al

1st
486 **

PanMasters Steel Orchestra

Feeling The Feeling

(“Shadow”)

Arranger:

Rudo Forteau