By the time he was 21 years old, Andre White, had already chalked up two Panorama titles in New York (2011 and 2012) arranging for the ADLIB Steel Orchestra while he was still a senior at Berklee College of Music. In 2011, the young man also captured the London Panorama with Mangrove Steel Orchetsra, having been handed that title by a team of judges that included the legendary Ray Holman, Anise Hadeed, Robert Bailey and Rudy ‘Two Lef” Smith. And then in 2012, the mighty Desperadoes in Trinidad invited Andre to arrange “Prophet of Pan” which took them to the semi finals. Give the young man another record: he juggled Panorama competitions in three countries (USA, England and Trinidad and Tobago) while juggling College from where he eventually graduated with a degree in professional music, majoring in composition and arranging. He will be back in action in Trinidad for Panorama 2018, arranging for Pamberi Steel Orchestra. "It was...interesting," Andre, who is now 27 years old said in an interview about his first experience with the legendary Desperadoes. "It was definitely a learning experience. Understanding how those legendary musicians in this legendary organization lived and viewed the culture." “I was 21 at the time and at first there was some nervous feelings but as the time went on I started to warm up to the situation." “One thing I did learn was the nature of the competition aspect in Trinidad, you can't leave any punches out musically," he said in recollection. “I don't think it really affected my confidence in a negative way. I went on to win Panorama in NY that same year as well as come second in London." "The very next year I worked with Tamana Pioneers in the Small Band category and came 3rd overall in the prelims and 5th in finals,” the NY based young man with Trini roots said. And then he took a break. “Prior to taking the break, I was doing three panoramas in three different countries while also juggling school and other priorities. I also wanted to take time to focus on becoming a performer/artist,” he explained. How did he hook up with Pamberi? Well I met Nestor Sullivan while working with Mangrove Steelband in London a few years back and he had reached out to me after the Trinidad Carnival this year and asked if I was interested and available to work with the band,” Andre explained. And what was his most memorable Panorama experience? "That's a hard question...one of my most memorable Panorama that I took part in (playing wise) was the last year Jit arranged for Renegades. I played with the band that year and for me not being old enough to say I played his first arrangement, at least I got to say I played his last." "As for arranging, my most memorable experience was probably last year NY panorama as I (along with friends) brought out a brand new band Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra. (PESO)and we came second,” Andre said. Pamberi is on a mission to remodel its Panorama profile and has pulled in Andre White to do the honors.
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