Duvone Stewart Celebrates 48th Birthday and Unveils Big Plans for 2025 National Panorama

On September 17, 2024, the acclaimed BP Renegades arranger, Duvone Stewart, marked his 48th birthday with a lively Instagram session, sharing his joy with fans and dropping exciting news. Known for his masterful steelpan arrangements, Stewart’s announcement had the live stream buzzing, especially with his upcoming plans for the 2025 National Panorama Competition.

Celebrating Life and Steelpan Legacy

In his live stream, Stewart radiated joy, raising a toast to life and giving heartfelt praise to fellow arrangers such as Andre White and rising talent, Jamel Cadette. This display of mutual respect and recognition for his peers showcased the deep sense of community within the steelpan fraternity.

A Three-Category Panorama Competition for 2025

Stewart made the grand revelation that he would be competing in three categories in the 2025 National Panorama competition: Single Pan, Small Band, and Large Band. Fans were particularly excited as Stewart laid out his plans for each category.

• Single Pan Band: Stewart will be arranging for San Juan East Side Symphony in this category, and the selected song is “Guns” by Spice and Company. With its marching segment, this classic hit is expected to offer a unique and engaging sound that will captivate audiences.

• Small Band: After much anticipation and guesses from his live viewers, Stewart confirmed that he will be arranging for Siparia’s Southern Stars Steel Orchestra in the Small Band category. He has chosen the iconic soca hit “Meh Lover” by Lord Nelson. Fans can expect an exhilarating performance that will no doubt ignite the Drag, North Stand, and Grand Stand.

• Large Band: No changes here – Stewart will continue his long-standing partnership with the BP Renegades. Although he kept the song choice under wraps, he teased that it will be a fresh, current track for the upcoming season.

A Challenge to Fellow Arrangers

One of the standout moments of Stewart's live session was his challenge to other arrangers. He emphasized that his song selections are deliberately chosen from tracks that have not been played by bands in past Panorama competitions. This decision pushes arrangers to craft fresh interpretations, adding a new level of complexity to the performances. Doing so, he says can make it tougher for the judges, ensuring that recycled tunes don’t dominate the competition.

A New Steelpan Radio Station on the Horizon

In addition to his competition plans, Stewart shared thrilling news for steelpan lovers: the launch of a 24/7 radio station dedicated solely to steelpan music. The station will feature previous panorama performances and covers of popular songs, bringing constant steelpan music to the airwaves. Fans were encouraged to stay tuned to social media for updates on this major development.

Birthday Serenade

As if the announcements weren’t enough, Stewart treated his live audience to a brief serenade, playing “Happy Birthday” on the pan, as well as a teaser performance of "Meh Lover." The performance was a perfect way to celebrate both his birthday and his exciting future plans.

Duvone Stewart’s live session was a gift not just to his fans, but to the entire steelpan community. With bold song choices, a challenge to fellow arrangers, and a steelpan radio station in the works, 2025 promises to be a thrilling year for steelpan music.

Happy Birthday, Duvone Stewart – and here’s to the next chapter in steelpan excellence!