Grenada’s annual Spicemas Panorama competitions have closed out with historic victories for two teams backed by local financial institution Nexa Credit Union, with the Nexa New Dimension Steel Orchestras earning top and second-place honors across the junior and senior divisions. In a statement released following the competitions, Nexa Credit Union extended warm congratulations to every musician, arranger, and leader of the organization’s two steel orchestras, hailing their standout performances that showcased the depth of Grenada’s iconic steelpan culture.
The junior cohort kicked off the competitive cultural season with a burst of energy at the Children’s Carnival Frolic, the official opening competition for young steelpan talent. Led by arranger Jeremy Ottley, the Nexa New Dimension Juniors delivered a dynamic, crowd-pleasing arrangement of V’ghn’s hit Jab Decisions, which featured guest vocals from Terra D Governor. The young musicians’ months of disciplined practice, combined with their infectious on-stage joy, earned them a second-place finish in the junior category. This strong result, Nexa Credit Union noted, signals that the next generation of Grenadian steelpan culture is being nurtured by skilled, committed young talent.
In the marquee Senior Panorama competition, the Nexa New Dimension senior orchestra made cultural history by securing its 15th National Championship title, adding another landmark achievement to its decades-long legacy of excellence. Under the creative direction of arranger Cordel Byam, the band took the stage as the final performer of the night, delivering a masterful interpretation of Sakinah’s I Got Me that earned a stunning 281 points from judges. The orchestra’s precise execution and raw, heartfelt passion held the entire stadium in thrall, ultimately locking in the top spot and bringing the national championship crown back to the ensemble once again.
Beyond celebrating its own teams’ successes, Nexa Credit Union extended praise to every steelband, arranger, volunteer, and fan across Grenada who contributed to making Spicemas 2026 a resounding success. The institution emphasized that its long-term investment in local cultural development stems from a deep respect for the resilience and artistic excellence of Grenada’s pan community, whose work continues to inspire audiences and participants alike across the country.
Nexa Credit Union reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to empowering local creative talent, nurturing national cultural pride, and supporting the vibrant community networks that drive Grenada’s social and cultural prosperity. This story was contributed by a partner of NOW Grenada, which notes it is not responsible for contributor opinions or third-party content, and invites users to report any abusive content via official platform channels.