When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to scholar, educator, composer, arranger and performing artist Khion De Las

Khion De Las

April 28th

When Steel Talks extends Birthday Greetings to panist Khion De Las

“At a very early age his career as a performer, songwriter and composer began. Khion was introduced to the piano at age 5 and began playing the Steelpan a few months later. Considered a prodigy, this aspiring young musician gradually added nine other instruments to his expanding repertoire. One of his teachers, Mrs. Cynthia lee Mack, discovered his immense talent and helped him develop his voice by enlisting him in the school’s many choirs. He was then awarded Most Outstanding Choir Member and Musician and later further developed his vocal abilities by studying voice with Jessel Murray and joining the UWI Arts Chorale.”

Khion De Las holds a Masters in Music degree from Northern Illinois University (NIU) where he focused primarily on Steelpan Performance, some Ethnomusicological Research, Conducting and World Music. He also holds a B.A. Music (hons) degree from the University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine campus. With an extensive background in steel band orchestral playing, “Khadence” as Khion is popularly known, was a member of the National Steel Symphony Orchestra, Southern Marines Steel Orchestra, Shades in Steel, Fonclaire, and Phase II Pan Groove, to name a few. For many years Khion arranged music for steel bands in both the Junior Panorama and the National Panorama competitions, and has had these bands rank highly in each of these competitions..

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