NYSSO
New York Symphonic Steel Orchestra
Aim to Make Change
Date: 05.24.04
Brooklyn, New York -
Six dynamic and driven young pan musicians dropped by the
studios of When Steel
Talks recently to announce the formation of
NYSSO: The New York Symphonic Steel Orchestra. The young people are
on the NYSSO Committee, and call various New York steel orchestras home,
including Despers USA, CASYM, and Pantonic Steel Orchestra. But
currently NYSSO boasts a membership of talented and skilled pan players
from almost all of New York's steelbands including the afore-mentioned
bands, as well as but not limited to - CrossFire, Pan Phoniks and Harmony.
And many more seeking out the organization as its existence becomes common
knowledge.
The new organization's primary goal is to educate.
It is addressing more fully - the issue of music literacy and the need for
more formal music skills to be acquired by New York's wider pan community.
While the majority of New York pan musicians are accomplished players by
"rote" (memorization through aural and visual observations), NYSSO believes that
they should also have the opportunity to excel in the field of formal music
training, which in turn can be applied to their overall pan experiences - thus ensuring that NY pan players
are not only naturally endowed with
raw talent, but become capable of rising to any challenge musically on the
international scene.
Another
of the organization's goals is to provide scholarships to talented pan
musicians. NYSSO's Executive Administrator Alicia Dixon's
portfolio includes staying on top of scheduling, new membership, and keeping
the organization on track administratively. The issue of
scholarship is very close to her heart. Dixon believes that "New York
pan players should be able to pursue a college degree and major in pan as an
instrument. We should be able to remain in New York, and not have to travel to other states,
such as Florida, Indiana and Illinois, for example, for the opportunity to
pursue a music degree in relation to the pan instrument." In this
regard, NYSSO will seek to collaborate with colleges and universities close to
home, in an attempt to realize this goal. Ultimately, noted arrangers
[such as Pelham Goddard, Beverly Griffith, Ken "Professor" Philmore, Clive
Bradley, Len 'Boogsie' Sharpe and others] are examples of ideal pan-related instructors; so too
are expert Pan tuners and accomplished steelband captains, etc., who would
now have a formal educational platform from which to impart their knowledge,
in addition to but outside of the panorama environment.
NYSSO's PRO, Wayne Bernard
(below, right) is especially proud of the good comraderie that
exists within the organization. The committee members are firm believers in
healthy competition, but not to the extent that the steelpan art form itself
falls victim to what can be debilitating "band loyalties."
The eager beaver of the committee is
Kernel Simon (left, in picture)
who is thrilled that NYSSO is finally off the ground. "They took so long!"
He is not the only one who feels that way. Apparently many other pan players
are equally excited about the prospect of a youth-driven steel pan
initiative in the New York area which allows the opportunity for innovative
growth. Travis Roberts is the organization's webmaster and
graphics designer. For him as well, NYSSO is an additional and welcome
direction for the steelpan art form. One of his ultimate aims in
regards to the web site is to make it interactive, where members should
eventually be able to access classroom and workshop content, to augment
their tutorial experience and hands-on instruction.
While in general the response to the concept and goals of
NYSSO has been positive, "it's been a mix [of responses]" admits committee
member Wilfred 'Junior' Kaiel. There has been avid interest on
the part of the pan players themselves, but others are cautious.
"There is a bit of fear from bands in general, that some of the talented
players [who are drawn to NYSSO] are going to leave their respective bands in Brooklyn."
The committee reiterated that this would not be the case; in fact, the
existence of NYSSO is intended to serve as a resource for all of New York's
steel orchestras in particular. "The NYSSO students/players will remain members
of their respective bands, and in turn strengthen and anchor their own
musical organizations during their ongoing acquisition of musical literacy
knowledge" stresses NYSSO music director, arranger and doctoral candidate
Arddin Herbert. He is responsible for the musical direction of the
band, in addition to conducting music literacy classes and workshops.
Freddie Harris, III,
who has already completed his own musical degree
at Florida's Memorial University, and Khuent Rose
who is currently
at Brooklyn College - both assist with teaching duties. Rose also
handles private tutoring for
musicians as necessary.
Bernard
reminisced about how the concept of NYSSO came into being. Sometime
aback, both he and Herbert had a long conversation about the New York pan
scene. With fully recognising and appreciating the groundwork
laid by the elders of the pan community, at the same time they understood
that it was left to the younger generation of pan players to "take pan to
the next level." It would be a fitting testament and legacy to
the work and sacrifices of the pan elders in Trinidad and Tobago, New
York, and those scattered around world, if the future of the steelpan art
form was being additionally secured, via an organization such as NYSSO whose
goals are critical to the "carrying of the torch."
Of course, the story of NYSSO would not be complete
without highlighting another main purpose - what they are also about in the
first place - performing with the pan instruments. The New York
Symphonic Steel Orchestra members (who currently range in ages between 16
and mid-30s), will not be playing traditional "panorama style"
arrangements. NYSSO's focus is "big" - that is - on the sounds of "big
band music, classical and jazz." Herbert notes that this is
another reason why the traditional New York steel orchestras need not feel
threatened. NYSSO's orchestral sound, style and aspirations
would not encroach at all, on the customary musical styles utilized by the
steelbands. Their calypso, soca, R&B and Pop-flavored
arrangements and repertoires are not where the NYSSO will be challenging its
energies. According to the committee, newcomers to NYSSO are
already very excited about the difference in musical direction, in addition
to the available classes and workshops.
Focusing on the Symphonic Steel Orchestra itself, Herbert
says that with an extensive repertoire planned, of at least sixteen pieces, it
would be a few months before a concert would be in the works, and about one
year until the release of the orchestra's first CD. It is NYSSO's
intention when fully viable, to perform throughout the year. It will
not only be a "summer" steelpan institution, which is generally
the case (though not by choice) on the main New York pan scene.
There are currently about forty-five NYSSO members. While
the opportunity is open to all to build their musical skillset through the
educational programs, only those who pass the stringent audition standards
can go on to become members of the Symphonic Orchestra. For
the moment, NYSSO practices and holds classes through the kind hospitality
and at the facilities of, a church institution located in the heart of the
Brooklyn area. The organization is of course actively working toward
procuring permanent space for its educational and rehearsal activities.
From left to right- Arddin Herbert, Wayne Bernard, Junior Kaiel, Kernel
Simon, Alicia Dixon and Travis Roberts
The doors of NYSSO are wide open to New York pan players,
and the organization is currently accepting new
members. Those interested can contact PRO Wayne Bernard at 1 (917)
692-0147. Email NYSSO at
info@nyssoonline.com;
their web site is
www.NYSSOonline.com.
C. Phillips
Basement
Press Corp.
©2005 When Steel Talks - All Rights Reserved
Date: 05.24.05 A
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