When Steel Talks revisits and continues our annual celebration of “Women in Pan” all over the world...
Celebration of Women
and the Steelpan Art Form
Sisters in Steel - A Tribute To Women In Pan
Their Story, Their Voice, Their Life, Their Dreams, Their Passion
Please add the names of Women in Pan you remember and celebrate...
Replies
I'm blessed and humbled to be following in the foot steps of such incredibly strong and determined women. They opened the door and carved the way for women in pan around. Thank you WST for highlighting their invaluable contributions. As ever, particularly at this time of year, my thoughts are with Pat Bishop and Geraldine Connor - my inspiration and influences. They hold a special place in my life and heart. I miss them both.
Big up to our Females in the Male dominated pan diaspora. This is just some pan trivia on some other Ladies.
(1) The first female to co-win the soloist category at Pan is Beautiful is Chantal Esdelle in 1992 (2) The first female to win outright is Niasha Layne in 1994 (3) The youngest to win the soloist category is a female; she is Keisha Codrinton at 10 years old in 2004 (4) The only arranger/conductor to hat-trick at Pan is Beautiful was a female, the late Dr. Pat Bishop (5) The only female to compose, arrange, conduct and co-win at the World's Music Festival ensemble category is Dr. Dawn Batson in 2000 (6) The only female to arrange the winning tune at Pan in the 21st Century is Dr. Jeannine Remy in 2010. (7) The only female to arrange and co-win in the Medium Panorama category is Mrs. Michelle Huggins-Watts in 2011 (8) The first female to compose, arrange, perform and win at Pan is Beautiful ensemble category is Ms. Vanessa Headley in 2013 (9) The only female to compose, perform and win at Pan is Beautiful is Ms. Keisha Codrinton in 2013 (10) Dr. Jeannine Remy composed, arranged and conducted, the best tune of choice at the Pan is Beautiful ensemble category in 2013 (11) The longest performing female panist in the world is Ms. Ursula Tudor, who is a member of Desperadoes since 1970 {Mia Gormandy, I have not fogotten about you. lol}
Merle Albino-de Coteau - Steelband Music pioneer, adjudicator, educator speaks on Panorama -
In an exclusive interview with When Steel Talks, steelpan musician, adjudicator, composer, pioneer, arranger and educator - the distinguished Merle Albino-de Coteau, shares her thoughts overall thoughts on Panorama, its past, present and future...
Global:
Merle Albino-de Coteau
WST - Are we finally starting to see the groundwork spear-headed by such women pioneers as yourself, at last start to take root, bear fruits?
Merle - “It has taken a while but finally we have started to see it bear fruit.”
WST - To be specific, this year there are a few women in the steelband arranging arena for panorama; they include, but may not be limited to: Michelle Huggins-Watts, Shenelle Abraham, Vanessa Headley, Jeannine Remy, Avis Bruce, Keisha Codrington - your immediate thoughts?
Merle - “Congratulations and all the best wishes to them. The fact that they have been selected shows that they have the ability and competence for the job at hand. I look forward to hearing their works.”
WST - Where are Pan people exactly in terms of progress?
Merle - “Some people have done more than others, having had more exposure to develop their potential and talent. The perception of “Pan people” has certainly changed considerably from what it was in the 1950s. Generally, the orchestras are more organised.”
- See more at: http://ow.ly/JUI0F
Dr. Geraldine Connor - In Her Own Words
When Steel Talks and its members were extremely fortunate to have the late great Dr. Geraldine Connor as one of our members. She was one of the pioneers who had huge dreams, tremendous respect and expectations for the steelpan instrument. Moreover, she applied her immense talents into the art form. She lit the torch, and pointed out which way was up. Through her few posts she told us about her accomplishments, gave us history, guidance and much encouragement. Notes and thoughts for the WST family from the legendary Dr. Connor.
Geraldine Connor - “My name is Dr. Geraldine Connor (PhD, MMus, LRSM, Dip.Ed)
My father Edric Connor (Singer, folklorist, actor and film-maker) was responsible for bringing TASPO to the Festival of Britain in 1951.
Between 1978 and 1984 I adjudicated as a Judge many Panorama competitions.
I was the first woman to play bass in the then Trintoc Invaders 1977 - 1983 and in 1984 was the first woman to arrange a panorama tune for them. Indeed I might have been the first woman to arrange for a panorama competition.
In the UK I arranged for Ebony Steelband for Panorama in 1983 which they won for the first time that year. I also arranged their classical repertoire for many years. In 2005 the British Association of Steelbands (BAS) gave the Connor family an award (which I accepted on their behalf) for their contribution to the Steelband movement in the UK.
I taught Arddin Herbert a piece of Bach for the T&T biennial music festival. I have worked very closely with Dudley Nesbitt, panist extraordinaire and New World Steel Symphony Orchestra in Leeds, UK for many years.
Most recently (2008) I played bass with Tobago band Steel Xplosion.
My show Carnival Messiah features a 25-player steelband playing the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah. This show is set be commercially produced and extensively toured throughout the world from 2012.
Presently I am based in the UK and write validation documents and handbooks for the Steelband to support its teaching in schools and universities.
I think that When Steel Talks is one of the best things that has ever happened to Pan!”
- See more at: http://ow.ly/JUHnP
....In this UpClose When Steel Talks (WST) exclusive interview, WST participated in one of those rare and treasured moments as we stepped back in time through the eyes, voice and memories of an original Pan pioneer Daisy James-McClean in our ‘UpClose’ series. Here is Daisy James-McClean’s story in her own words.
read moreGirl Pat Steel Orchestra
Steelband pioneer, Curtis Pierre, 70, said:
“Girl Pat was the female version of Invaders. It was around the time when the college boys were forming Dixieland. It’s the first and one of the few all girls’ steelbands. It was that kind of rebellious youth. I saw her about two years ago, when I had my pan school in Belmont. She passed and chatted with me. She looked totally un-Alzheimic.” read more
There is a woman name Dotsy Perez that played with Tripoli in the early days, she is the first woman I know to beat pan in a steelband.
In my days of the Early Days the Woman that I knew that played a Pan Was "Daisy" (City Syncopators)
PAT BISHOP, A Person In Pan
Pat Bishop
The late Pat Bishop was one of the most respected, influential and celebrated women in the steelpan movement. Holder of Trinidad & Tobago's highest award -The Trinity Cross, her accomplishments are second to none. [Full Bio]
I remember once singing with Esso Tripoli steelband and abandoning solo singing soon afterwards in preference for pan arranging. In those days I worked feverishly to find out what the instrument could do and I lived with the pans of Birdsong in my house for a very long time
They were very kind and they soon let me arrange for them, starting with simple hymn tunes. And so too did many, many more bands.
The Classical Festival was to become the event for which my major work was done, but I also started to drill and clean up Panorama arrangements and do critical pan commentary for Radio Trinidad. I continue to do these jobs today.
One particular interest of mine over the years has been the music composed specifically for pan and I consider it a privilege to be allowed to work with Jit Samaroo, Ken Philmore, Ray Holman and Boogsie Sharpe. A highlight of this work was having the opportunity to conduct Boogsie’s “Dance of the Douens” for Skiffle Bunch, especially after it had been choreographed by Patricia Roe for the Caribbean School of Dancing at Queen’s Hall.
Music Festival victories as arranger/conductor for Desperadoes gave rise to many overseas appearances, the highlights of which are probably my two Carnegie Hall concerts with the band.
But alas, all of that music has been lost because our pan people are not yet musically literate. Today, some individuals are able to read a line of music. Very few read and also write!! It therefore takes an enormous amount of time and patience to teach music which has originally been scored for the full conventional orchestra. The work becomes heartbreaking when it is discovered that the players forget it all very, very quickly. This kind of issue has nothing at all to do with gender.
- See more at: http://www.panonthenet.com/woman/2005/patbishop.htm#sthash.ejpV6B9K...