By Aabigayle McIntosh

 The renowned steel band, Caribbean Union Bank Hell’s Gate Steel Orchestra, known as one of the country’s oldest surviving steel bands, is set to host its popular 4-A-Side pan competition on December 30th at the pan yard on Bay Street in the Point.

This marks the fifth edition of the biennial event, which originally began as an internal initiative for arrangers, individual players, and band management, later expanding to involve the broader community, according to Khan Cordice, one of the leaders and arrangers of the steel band.

Cordice expects participation from 12 to 16 pan sides, emphasizing that the competition, while nurturing younger talent, is open to participants of all ages, aiming to foster the development of pan players and arrangers and enhance the overall capacity of the steelpan community.

Pan enthusiasts from across the island are invited to attend, with the promise of witnessing high-caliber skills from the participating pannists.