The 25th Anniversary of Declaration of the Steelpan as the National Musical Instrument of Trinidad & Tobago

[Pan Times]

In observance of the 25^th Anniversary of Declaration of the Steelpan as the National Musical Instrument of Trinidad & Tobago, Pan Trinbago Inc. T.C. will be hosting a photographic exhibition on Friday 11 August, 2017, at  the Brian Lara Promenade (between Chacon and Abercromby Streets), Port of Spain. The exhibition runs from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Under the theme, “The Steelpan Journey from Tamboo Bamboo to G-Pan“, the exhibition features a number of photographs in black and white and colour.

Additionally, the Steelpan Tuners’ Guild of Trinidad & Tobago will mount a display depicting the origin of the steelpan from its early developmental stages to its current form.

Artefacts such as the Tamboo Bamboo, Kettle Drum, Dupdup, the fourths and fifth low “C” Spider Web Pan as well as the Ellie Mannette and Bertie Marshall “pans” and G-Pans among others will form part of the exhibit.

Several milestones in the annals of Pan Trinbago will also be featured. These include footage of past National Panorama Competitions, Champs In Concert/Champs of Steel Plus, SteelFest, and the International Panorama and Conference.                         

Keith Diaz, President of the Organization, will declare the exhibition open at 9:00 am on Friday.

Valley Harps, Musical Gems and Diego Martin West Stars Steel Orchestras will entertain the public from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Plans are underway to take the exhibition to other parts of the country.  Southerners will have the opportunity of viewing the exhibits on Friday 18^th August. Venue is the Harris Promenade, San Fernando, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Dates will be announced for the staging of the exhibition in the East and Tobago.

Pan Trinbago will be hosting several other activities in August in commemoration of the 25^th Anniversary of the declaration of the steelpan as the National Musical Instrument by former Prime Minister Patrick Manning on August 30, 1992.

Two (2) events, An Interfaith Service at the Trinity Cathedral, Port of Spain, held last Sunday during which flags of the steelbands were blessed as well as the visit to the foundation stone in East Port of Spain, have signalled the official start of activities heralding Pan Month.