New Easter parang champs

The group won the title on Easter Sunday in San Rafael.

Members of Los Amigos Cantadores, captained by former National Parang Association of Trinidad and Tobago (NPATT) president Neil Marcano, are no strangers to the parang circuit.

They sang Maria Magdalena by Henry Perrieira and a Gavilan Medley.

La Esperanza de Parranda, a fairly new band on the parang landscape, with no experience in national competitions, placed second. The band was captained by Kaychelle Padmore.

Competitors were required to sing one song on the resurrection or crucifixion of Jesus Christ and another song of their choice.

The competition was judged by Neville Mendoza, Dr Francisca Allard and Keith Simpson.

The Arima Boys RC and Girls RC Primary School Parang band, which placed fourth in the National Junior Parang Competition, were among the many who gave special performances on the night.

The Venezuelan Embassy was represented by Maria Nuitter, who performed a Burriquita De Choroni dance.

According to SRAPA members Kerry Ragoobarsingh and Anthony Solozano, the purpose of the event was to promote the preservation of the authentic parang sound.

“We are trying to preserve parang in it’s natural form.

Let it stay like this.

“We will enjoy the soca parang and chutney parang.

“But we want the traditional sound to stay,” said Solozano.

He said parang has deep roots in San Raphael and the first ever recorded parang song was done by a band called the Brazil Serenaders captained by Tommy Ribero.

“The last member of that band, Ernest Cummings died last year,” he said.

The event was hosted by SRAPA in collaboration with the San Rafael RC Church.

Results
1st: Los Amigos Cantadores
2nd: La Esperanza de Parranda
3rd: Los Antiguos Alumnos
4th: La Casa de Parranda
5th: Los Reyes de la Colina
6th: Mucho Baila
Best lead instrument: La Casa de Parranda - mandolin
Best cuatro: La Esperanza de Parranda
Best guitar: Los Reyes de la Colina
Best maracas: La Esperanza de Parranda
Best box bass: La Esperanza de Parranda
Best Lead Singer: Los Amigos Cantadores
Farouk Khan Challenge trophy: La Casa de Parranda
Youth award: La Esperanza de Parranda
Best Original Composition: Los Reyes de la Colina - Make yourself at home.