PANMAGEDDON
I am writing you this letter in appreciation of the hard work and dedication that the people of Trinidad and Tobago have put into the development of our national instrument. I have mentioned to Mr. Lashley our High Commission in Toronto about organizing an all steelband event on August 31 2012 to commemorate our 50th year of independence by performing the National Anthem of Trinidad and Tobago as a tribute to our Cultural Heritage and our gift to the World. The Steelpan Instrument is just as symbolic to the World, as the Statue of Liberty in terms of freedom of expression. I propose this "Pan-mageddon" be held at 4:00 PM T&T time. All Steelbands should take to the streets, parks, community centers, savannahs in their districts creating the largest amount of Steelbands playing the official version of the Anthem at the same time. Its a little more than three (3) years from now, I am forwarding this message to you in your capacity to advise on making it work. Steelpan personnells world-wide can pay their respect and tribute to the Land of the Steelpan.
Regards.
Trinidad, W.I. - For the first time in their storied history, Caribbean Airlines Invaders Steel Orchestra will perform their very own original composition as their tune of choice, for the Trinidad and Tobago national steelband music panorama competition.
The steel orchestra’s 2009 offering, entitled “Caribbean Woman” was penned by famed composer, arranger, and performer Len “Boogsie” Sharpe. Vocalist Anselm Douglas does double-duty as lyricist for Caribbean Woman. Kenny Phillips served as the song’s producer and Caribbean Airlines Invaders Steel Orchestra, in what may be a first - served as executive producer.
Global - Bright, articulate, immensely talented, intellectual, down-to-earth and forthright are all words that can be aptly applied in the description of this young man. He is a music educator and a much sought-after music lecturer and adjudicator of steelpan and other music-related competitions. He has been involved with the steel pan instrument for over twenty-six years and hails originally from southern Trinidad.
Meet Victor Prescod, project coordinator of the “Pan in the Classroom Project Unit” in the Ministry of Education of Trinidad and Tobago. This unit is part of the curriculum development division. Its main focus is having the steelpan used as the primary instrument to teach music in schools. In an informative and personable exclusive interview, When Steel Talks captures Victor Prescod’s insight on music education, adjudication and adjudicators.
Antigua & Barbuda, W.I. - The ‘Five-A-Side’ competition - a favorite element of the annual Moods of Pan (MOP) steelband festival - did not field in 2008 the plethora of participants as in the past. But the crowd on hand (pictured) undeniably had a very full evening of great music and overall entertainment dished out not only by the eventual two Five-A-Side competitors, Musical Youth and Golden Hands, but also the invited artistes.
Moods of Pan is hosted by one of Antigua & Barbuda’s most noted music organizations, Gemonites Steel Orchestra. The organizers had received a commitment from as many as nine groups, each featuring five steelband musicians eagerly vying for bragging rights in the second of the three nights’ events, within the simultaneously humorous and musical atmosphere that was the Five-A-Side competition.
Antigua & Barbuda, W.I. - Barbara Mason is the Steel Band Coordinator in the Cultural Development Division in Antigua and Barbuda. She is tremendously committed to the progress of youth talent arts. When Steel Talks conducted an exclusive interview with this cultural officer who is instrumental in the phenomenon of Antigua and Barbuda’s Youth Pan Orchestra as one of the best in the region.
As a cultural officer: “what we try to do is scout for talent in the various disciplines” says Barbara Mason. They are on the lookout to see how they can assist their youthful resources in maximizing the most of their artistic talents.
Antigua & Barbuda, W.I. - While When Steel Talks was visiting the panyards on our recent trip to Antigua we caught up with the country’s Prime Minister, the Honourable Baldwin Spencer who was in Halcyon Steel Orchestra’s panyard taking in a practice section for the 2008 Moods of Pan Festival. We posed three questions to the Prime Minister which he very graciously answered.
“...as leaders and so on, we ought to be identifying with the art form and to give it as much encouragement and exposure as possible, so that it can grow and flourish not only in the Caribbean, but throughout the world....We as leaders need to be paying great attention to what this is, and to make sure that we hold it - while we give it to the world, we hold it as ours.”
United Kingdom - Brent Holder, World Champion Soloist, formed the Caribbean Steel International steelband in 2004, after obtaining invaluable experience from working with some of the top steel bands in the UK, Trinidad and Japan with three members owing to the demand for small gigging bands. After ensuring that their small steel band was well established on the gigging circuit, CSI founding members decided to start a community group which would involve their local communities in the steel pan art form.
....CSI felt classes would be especially beneficial to those who are disabled, socially excluded and an advantage for the youths in the borough as it would keep them off the streets and teach them a culture they may not already know about, also giving them the opportunity to enhance their teamwork skills and take pride in themselves and what they can achieve.
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New York, USA - As 2009 comes into focus, for André White - 2008 has been that ‘year to remember.’ For this young musician who set the steelband world on its ear, life will never be the same. New York steelband panorama veteran arrangers – some previous competition winners themselves - had to respectfully duff their hats to André White in the early hours of Sunday September 1 - when his arrangement of Amrit Samaroo’s Heat as executed by his band, Long Island’s one hundred-strong ADLIB Steel Orchestra, made them New York Panorama champions for the first time ever, and by default conferring upon him, the title of ‘champion arranger.’ But the additional history-making element is André’s age. He was a mere eighteen years old.
United Kingdom - The British Association of Steelbands Future Development Forum (BAS FDF) hosted their “Calypsteel Winter Lime” on Sunday 21 December 2008 at Carnival Village Yaa Asantewaa, 1 Chippenham Mews, London W9. It is a new initiative developed by FDF, in partnership with Carnival Village and the Association of British Calypsonians, and the intention was to bring together pan, calypso and parang to celebrate the festive season in true Trini style. Steel bands and Calypsonians play 2 or 3 Christmas carols, plus other songs from their repertoire in a family evening show.
St. John’s, Antigua & Barbuda, W.I. - Meet Khan Cordice, the eighteen year-old youthful arranger for the National Youth Pan Orchestra of Antigua & Barbuda. As fate would have it, WST conducted an interview one day before Cordice would make history by winning the 25-A-Side competition at the Moods of Pan Festival 2008, beating out other seasoned and previous winning arrangers to do so. 