The turnout was tremendous on Saturday evening when principal Anna Pounder, staff, students of St Joseph’s Convent, Port-of-Spain, and coordinator Noel Aming staged the third edition of their annual Parang in a Pot competition.
The contest fielded four groups from the junior school and eight from the senior classes. Thespian Cecilia Salazar hosted the show, with the contestants judged by veteran music musician Michael Germain, vocalist Natalie Yorke and T&T Guardian editor Peter Ray Blood.
There was entertainment galore on the evening, beginning with a combined steelband of St Joseph’s Convent and St Mary’s College students, and including parang groups of St Joseph Convent’s teachers and male Sixth Form students, and songs by soca artiste Kes.
Performances included traditional parang classics and two test pieces—Angel Gabriel (juniors) and Ave O Maria (seniors). Patrons were treated to traditional Christmas delicacies as well as stalls with traditional bazaar games like Hoop-la.
Everyone seemed to have a good time at the event and it was a beautiful sight to see young boys and girls having clean fun, dancing to the performances. Parang in a Pot is a positive incentive to Spanish students as they have to articulate the Spanish lyrics of their selections.
As they performed, almost every group had a routine to embellish their songs, reminiscent of Alicia Jagessar and Los Alumnos de San Juan. Starting at 7.10 pm, Saturday’s event ended at 9.10 pm.
PARANG IN A POT: RESULTS
Best Dressed Group:
Las Paranderas Bellisimas (form Nat Sci)
Best Soloist (Juniors):
1st: Dominic Akal (Hermanas de Parranda, form 3N)
2nd: Los Angeles de Maria (forms 1K & 1M)
Best Soloist (Seniors):
1st: Chelsea Fraser (form 5, Nat Sci)
2nd: Kristina James (form 5, Nat Sci)
Overall—Juniors:
1st: Hermanas de Parranda (form 3N)
2nd: Los Angeles de Maria (forms 1K & 1M) and Chicas Lindas (forms 2K & 2M)
3rd: Los Picantes (form 3K)
Overall—Seniors:
1st: Las Reinas (Upper Sixth form)
2nd: Las Paranderas Bellisimas (form 5, Nat Sci)
3rd: Las Damas de la Rosa (form L6, Nat Sci)