Panorama season is in full swing, and Tobago is already celebrating a major victory. In this I Love Tobago segment, one of the island’s gifted arrangers, Ojay Richards, takes centre stage after capturing the joint Small Conventional Band title at the recently held National Panorama competition.
Tobago’s versatile arranger Ojay Richards is still basking in the glow of his third Small Conventional Band Panorama title, captured by Uptown Fascinators who joint winners with Southern Stars last Saturday. In a virtual interview, Ojay explained that he has been arranging for the band for approximately nine years, describing the journey as an uphill battle. He recalled that in his first year as arranger, Uptown Fascinators advanced to the finals.
“They actually came last in the finals and that was a celebration for them like they actually won the Panorama because we never made it into the finals before and from that year, the next year onwards the band started progressing going up in the top five and from 2nd year Uptown maintained that top five place and top ten place. The band kept upgrading instruments, players were more consistent. So it is a great achievement to see where the band is today, three-time winners of the National Panorama competition.”
Ojay shared that he has always been fond of Crazy’s ‘Band from Space”, noting that it gave him the freedom to fully explore his creativity. With a strong storyline, he said Uptown Fascinators’ production was well executed.
“Aliens came to Trinidad and Tobago and invaded the Panorama. They brought pans and they wanted to compete in the Panorama and they kind of turned up the Panorama scene. So we decided we will take revenge and that was our storyline. So we taking revenge and we heading back out to space and the visuals worked well with it because I know I could come out in a space uniforms. The players were in alien uniforms. They really wanted to be aliens”
Reliving the moment Uptown Fascinators were announced joint winners of the Panorama competition, Ojay said the experience still feels surreal, but emphasized that the band’s hard work paid off.
“The entire band when we heard tie we were just like okay it is only two bands left and there is a tie for first but nobody aint run up on stage yet and then it hit we wait we win and then we ran up on stage. The feeling was euphoric. It was amazing.”
Uptown Fascinators is also continuing to make waves in the steelpan movement with the introduction of a Youth Orchestra. Formed in November, the band has already secured a place in the Junior Panorama competition, another proud moment for the arranger.
“You feel that pride because you carrying that Uptown Fascinators name and they know they are the juniors and they’re looking up to the seniors. So it felt good to lead the way for the juniors. Seniors going forward we were in the competition and we won and that it is something they can aspire to.”
Last week, the Youth Orchestra’s arranger, 17-year-old Amari Douglas, told us that Ojay is his mentor.
“You know coming out as a young arranger you will look up to certain persons to pick their brain, get to know what they know and to know that I went through that. I would love to be that bridge. There is nothing that Amari could come and ask me that I will not tell him and he is a very talented young man and he is coming up and to think that this is his first Panorama arranging and he has already made it into the finals. That’s a great achievement.”
Ojay, who continues to make his mark in the arranging fraternity, said keeping God at the center of his work and practicing effective time management helps him remain grounded and focused.
“Everytime before we even start a rehearsal session we say a prayer. Even before we perform for finals, I gathered a couple of them again and I say let us say a prayer. God has to be center of everything but in terms of focus time management is the biggest part because I already arrange for three other categories, Single Pan with Hope Pan Groovers, Medium with Pan Elders and Silver Stars in Trinidad.”
He also shared advice for young and aspiring arrangers.
As quickly as you can, find your own voice musically and don’t be afraid to step out the box.”
With the Small Band title already secured, Ojay Richards is now setting his sights on capturing victories in the Medium and Large Band categories as well.