Pan Trinbago
New Arranger for Birdsong Steel Orchestra!
Ph.D. candidate in ethnomusicology at Florida State University (FSU) Mia Gormandy replaces Composer/ Arranger Andy Narell at Birdsong Steel Orchestra.
At 27 years old, Gormandy, is the manager of Pastiche Steel Ensemble and The Virtual Steelband and is currently conducting her dissertation research in Japan. She is also a recipient of the Howard Mayer Brown Fellowship awarded by the American Musicological Society.
Gormandy is a former student of St Joseph Convent (POS) and from the age of 5 grew up playing the steelpan in the Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra. At age 15, Gormandy attained a full scholarship to attend Northern Illinois University “NIU” where she graduated in 2009 with her Bachelor’s Degree in Music (Honours).
In 2013, Mia graduated with a second Master of Music degree in Ethnomusicology at Florida State University “FSU”.
She studied under steelpan pioneer Cliff Alexis and steelpan virtuoso Liam Teague. In 2008, she became the first pan player to win the NIU Concerto Competition.
Several different committees have awarded her over the years, including the Laventille Steelband Festival Foundation and the Port-of-Spain City Corporation. She was also awarded NIU’s Most Outstanding Woman of the Year 2011.
She has performed in several different countries all over the world including Australia, Austria, England, USA, Canada, and the Caribbean.
Replies
Congratulations Mia, I wish you the best, just learn the Format of what it takes to be inside of the Box, Panorama is different from Music Festival, just give the Judges what they want to hear and SEE,
I would like to congratulate birdsong on a very wise business decision. Andy Narell is an accomplished talented and extremely dedicated musician, but birdsong has NEVER qualified for the finals under his musical leadership. It is also good to see new unproven arrangers get an opportunity to establish themselves. Young arrangers such as Kareem Brown, Khion De Las, Shenelle Abrams, Andre WHite, Shelton Besson Marc Brooks, Kendall WIlliams and Odie Franklin are not just the future but the present of Panorama. Remember Boogsie, Pro, Smooth and Ray Holman will not be around forever. Thank you birdsong for believing in change and youth.
This is fantastic, young talented, female, highly educated musician.
I think she will do a great job as an arranger. Our youth needs the opportunity to grow and learn and possibly take the music in a different direction.
Congratulations Mia, all the best to you. You have made us proud.
Congrats Mia! What a find! Now Birdsong has pioneered the first woman to arrange for a large steelband. I wish you great success. Sometimes new blood is needed in a band. Now I can see Birdsong coming out of the pack and having a brighter future than with her predecessor.
Not the first... Remy at Hatters before they moved down to medium.
Yes Noah but you forgot to mention Shenelle Abraham who arrange play Yourself 1n 2012 for Skiffle.Bunch.
Thank you, that's another good example.
Mia on PHI PLaying "Summer Time" .. sorry'bout the video quality
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFZaX2A05bg
COngrats Mia!!!!
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