Blog 2.0

Young Pan Santas 

and

Big Hearts

SILHOUETTES STEEL ORCHESTRA

The Silhouettes Steel Orchestra is a popular, long -standing steel band in Toronto, founded in 1979 under the leadership of Danny Mosca.  His son, Mark Mosca arranges for the band and ensures it continues to be a strong contender at annual Steel Pan competitions in Toronto.

Over the past 32 years this orchestra has performed at various functions in Canada and the USA, including the St. Catherine’s Grape and Wine and Stratford Festivals.

The Silhouettes organization aspires to foster love, friendship and family values. This year and over the last twenty four weeks the Silhouettes Steel band and Community Organization has expanded its wings to include a youth steelband program with the purpose;

- to develop young pan musicians and use the art form to improve and expand learning opportunities for our youth.  The objective of the program is to ensure that our young members learn the essential skills necessary to realize musical success as well as to gain those life skills; pertinent to assisting them to navigate positively

through life challenges.

Thus far, our youth program has participated in two musical recitals and a Christmas fund-raising concert.

Saturday 8, December  2012 at 11:00am  at the Mc Cowan Street Fire Station, the organization once again displayed its’ loyalty and commitment to our community by collecting and presenting several boxes of toys to the local fire department.

For the previous 8weeks the organization has been involved in a Christmas toy drive to provide for less fortunate families in the community.  This initiative has been a success in 2 ways. Firstly, the effort has encouraged and brought about considerable contributions which shine a light on the generosity of our community. Secondly, the youth involvement in this endeavour has ensured the development of many learning opportunities which we know will pay great dividends in developing their academic, as well as their emotional intelligence.

This initiative was undertaken in partnership with the local fire department.The collaboration we hope will be an annual event.

The Leadership aspires to continue to encourage and engage our membership to pursue their dreams and aspirations to become productive citizens. 

Silhouettes Youth Pan Music Program   is directed by Layne Clarke. Pan classes are scheduled to resume in January 2013.

Please contact us for more information about all programs and events.  

                                      “ A MAGICAL EVENING IN A TWILIGHT”

A magical evening of Pan & Parang  music indeed was displayed on Sunday 2^nd December 2012 at the Twilight Restaurant  located on  the  South east corner  of Nugget  Rd and Mc Cowan Ave in Scarborough, Toronto.  This event was created by the Silhouettes Steelband and Cultural  Community Organization and was produced by ENYAL Pan Music Productions.

The collaboration certainly worked. The success was evident according to the  performances from all the performing groups which were masterfully delivered and  readily received by  the 250-300  attendees who ate up the music like a deliciously prepared West Indian Dish constructed with  all the  tasty Caribbean   spices, ingrediances with all the intricacies. The atmosphere was  quite reminiscent  of a Caribbean Christmas Lime with family and friends celebrating the season with  good music, food, “ole talk” and dance.

The first half  of the program began with a skilful presentation by Pannist, Taurean Clarke, who delivered a jazzy repertoire  of Christmas and  popular standards which set  the tone for the events to come.

This was followed by confident performances by Silhouettes Youth  Steelband  Assembles and Chamber Programs whose  members diligently toiled for eight,  one and a half  hours’ sessions to perfect their 5 songs repertoire to present for the event.  Congratulations go out to our Level one  and two youth members who demonstrated commitment, teamwork, integrity, intelligence  and maturity to  understand the magnitude of  the task set out for them to achieve success. According to the instructor, Layne Clarke,  “they certainly surpassed expectations” and the same sentiment was echoed by several proud parents,  audience participants, as well as, the founder of the organization, Danny Mosca.

The Second  half of the program commenced with the thunderous sounds of the senior band lead by the fearless and talented arranger and  pan soloist, Mark Mosca who delivered a repertoire  of  Parang and Christmas standards;  arranged rich with  rhythmic and harmonic allure  and intrigue which captivated  the audience every step of  the way.  The superb techniques, smiles and confidence of the members  certainly assisted in embellishing  the arrangements which translated well with  expression and emotions to the audience.

The formal program concluded with the launching of a new Parang band  appropriately named,“ Los Pan-didos Amigos”  which consists of a group of talented  music professionals who came together for the soul purpose of lending their musical prowess in support of the Silhouettes Organization‘s fundraising  initiative. Needless to say  the launching was a success and the band well received . This would hardly been  possible  without the extremely talented and accomplished  lead vocalist, Alana Milne. The  backup musicians included Dennis Renwick, lead guitar, Andy Phillips, bass, Mark Mosca, keyboard, Layne Clarke, alto pan , Gareth Burgess, Drums and Elton Jones, percussion.  

Thanks to the many other musicians who came out and joined the effort in support of this cause..

The Silhouettes Cultural Organization and Enyal Pan Productions would like to thank all the members of the performing groups.

A Silhouettes Steel band and Cultural Community Organization Production

                          Produced by: ENYAL Pan Music Productions

                    http://www.silhouettes1979.com/affilationnetwork.htm