Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - “My passion for Panorama, Pan and culture starts with my love for my country... I am extremely proud to be an ambassador for the only acoustic instrument invented in the 20t
New York, USA - “My passion is the music, and the instrument and the art form, so it’s difficult to walk away from an instrument that I’ve grown up with. But I appreciate the versatility of the instru
Bahamas, W.I. - In 1957, Dudley Smith, who had made a name for himself in Trinidad as a Band Leader and Tenor Pan soloist, was brought to the Bahamas by Mrs. Toothe, the widowed owner of the up-scale “Buena Vista Hotel and Restaurant,” located at De
Chicago, Illinois, USA - “I would advise other female panists to GO FOR IT!!! The instrument is awesome and my only regret has been at times when I would start and stop playing/arranging because I dou
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - “I’ve grown up around Aunty Pat, hearing her thoughts over and over about the treatment of pan and our culture. It has help shaped my own thoughts on the issue at hand, so t
New York, USA - “What disappoints me the most about the steel pan movement is exactly that, the lack of a movement. There doesn't seem to be a "movement." There seems to be plenty of different entitie
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And with the greatest of reverence and bravado they boast… “Yuh hear big band?”
Anyone remotely associated with Pan, Steel Orchestras, Panorama and the Caribbean understands the special meaning and emphasis of that phrase. And in the same vein one c
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Global - ....Even at a younger age, Khan Cordice’s talent was set in stone, when as a mere teenager he surpassed veteran musicians in the field of arranging in the Moods of Pan festival in his country back in 2008, triumphing that night. Months late
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New York, USA - “I remember going to Sesame Flyersְ’ Saturday program, I was 9 years old. Thatְ’s where I met Marc Brooks, K.J., and a few others who are still around now. I started off playing tenor
Xalapa, Mexico - “...everything else, is played in a different way, and that makes steel pan really more interesting. Movements you make playing this instrument reminds me of practicing tai-chi... Pan
New Jersey, USA - “I’m always proud to see the steel pan being used all over the world. For instance, going to ICP and seeing a steel band from Japan was amazing...
“My experience at ICP was definite
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New Jersey, USA - “Finding a place for steelbands to practice is one of the greatest challenges this current generation is facing. Not only is this a problem in New York but also in New Jersey where m
Seattle, Washington, USA - “When I heard Ray Holman play on the double-seconds, I could not believe my senses. This was clearly beyond what any words could express.”
“....I start from the origin of t
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Seattle, Washington, USA - “What captivated me at first was the uniqueness of the instrument and the beautiful sounds it makes....” says founder of Seattle Women's Steel Pan Project, Oriana Estrada.”
New York, USA - “....now I just love to play; it's in my blood. I feel like I'm a part of this somewhat secret society because there are many people in the world who still do not know about Steelpan t
New York, USA - “...challenges. There is so much to learn, from music theory to Kendall's offbeat phrasings. There's always something to do or something I don't know about as yet. Music is infinite.”
New York, USA - The temperature was rising. The affected community residents were there in force - emotional, and very vocal on their positions as it relates to the matter at hand. And as the phr
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New York, USA - “It’s just such an amazing instrument to say you know how to play....I feel like the community doesn’t welcome steel pan....The community needs to be more understanding and welcoming t
New York, USA - “....It's not noise, it's music. Bring a chair, sit down and listen; trust and believe you're gonna enjoy it. You might even jump up out of your chair and start dancing - or come back th
