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New
York
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The name
‘Sonatas’
quickly
brings to
mind three
key words –
‘excellence,’
‘consistency’
and
‘driven.’
For about
four decades
the
Brooklyn,
New York
organization
has been a
stellar
example of
the power
and
importance
of a
successful,
community-based,
world-class
steel
orchestra. Few
organizations
can display
the success
record of
this
ten–time New
York
steelband
music
panorama,
and current
defending,
champion
orchestra.
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Honoree
Mack
Scott,
leader
and
president
of
Sonatas
Steel
Orchestra,
holds
2010
Commendation
Award |
Recently,
Pan Sonatas’
(formerly
Sonatas) success and
unwavering
commitment
to
excellence
were
recognized
when leader
and
president
Mack Scott
was one of
four
distinguished
honorees
recognized
for
Caribbean-American
Heritage
Month in New
York, by the
office of
the New York
Comptroller,
John C. Liu.
A large part
of the
organization’s
success and
consistency
is due to
the
steadfastness
of Mr.
Scott. His
vision,
personal
sacrifices
and
leadership
have guided
the
multicultural
organization
to national
and global
recognition
as one of
the best
music
organizations
in the
world. His
quiet
leadership
style
beguiles the
passion,
intensity
and
intellect
his
problem-solving
skills bring
to the
executive
management
branch of
Pan Sonatas,
where there
is respect
among
co-executives
and equals.
Remarkably,
Pan Sonatas’
success has
spanned
generations
of players
and members,
who must
operate in
an often
hostile and
difficult
environment,
as usually
bedevils the
New York
steelpan
community.
Jerome
Cummings,
right,
and
fellow
steelpan
musician
Tory
Parks
-
proudly
show off
the
award
received
by the
leader
and
president
of their
music
organization,
honoree
Mack
Scott
Jerome
Cummings,
one of Pan
Sonatas’
talented
steelpan
musicians,
says it was
“a very
special
occasion for
Mack Scott
and his band
as he
received the
Caribbean
American
Heritage
award for
his
outstanding
leadership.”
Jerome
further
stated “I am
very
proud to be
part of his
team. It’s a
great
accomplishment
for him and
the band to
be
recognized
as one of
the top
steelbands
in the
United
States.”
Jerome and
six other
Sonatas
panists
performed
during the
June 22
award
ceremony
held at
Surrogates
Courthouse,
Chambers
Street in
New York.
(left to
right)
Jerome
Cummings,
Tory
Parks,
honoree
Mack
Scott
and
Cecil
Wilson,
one the
founders
of Pan
Sonatas
The
Pan Sonatas
performance
at the
occasion was one of
several for
the evening,
which
included two
vocal
performances
by Ernest Kebreau aka
“E-Uneek”
and Justin
Perry-Skyer,
respectively. The latter
also sang
the national
anthem,
followed by
a welcome to
all present
from
Comptroller
John C. Liu,
who would
also deliver
closing
remarks at
the end of
the evening. Danielle Ramkissoon
and Shanaz
Jaikaran of
the David
Ali Nachle
Sitara Dance
Academy were
also part of
the list of
artists who
entertained
the audience
on hand in
the
specially-arranged
welcoming
hall set up
especially
for the
occasion.
The other
distinguished
honorees of
the evening
receiving
awards were Ricot Dupuy
of Radio
Soleil
d’Haiti,
Audrey
Phillips-Caesar
of the
Caribbean
Women's
Health
Association
and Ralph
Tamesh of
the
Indo-Caribbean
Federation.
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