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Princes Town Methodist School Steelband, Grads, “Reach” Higher

 

Princes Town Methodist School 2011 Graduates play pan and sing at their ceremony
Princes Town Methodist School 2011 Graduates - Voices and Pan ring out at Graduation Ceremony

Princes Town, Trinidad, W.I. - Under the astute tutelage of Noel Skair, the graduating Class of 2011 at Princes Town Methodist School in South Trinidad could comfortably take their hats off, take a bow and “Reach.”  The students have not only reached out to their parents, specially invited guests and well-wishers, but they had actually gotten their country’s national instrument - the Pan - to appeal to “the herd instincts of man” with a piece entitled “Reach” as arranged by Skair.

The students, indeed, did justice to the Gloria Estefan composition as they sang and/or played:-

“If I could reach, higher
Just for one moment touch the sky
From that one moment in my life
I'm gonna be stronger
Know that I've tried my very best
Put my spirit to the test
If I could reach”

The band also played the National Anthem. It was indeed their moment to be stronger having put their spirits to the test... Later on, the proud graduating students performed a Spiritual Dance.

Princes Town Methodist School Graduating Class of 2011 performs on steelpan for happy onlookers
The Graduating Class of 2011 performs on steelpan for proud and happy onlookers

The Graduation Service/Prize Giving Ceremony took place at the Methodist Church in Princes Town on Friday June 17, 2011. The guest speaker was journalist A.P. Toussaint.  Other presenters included the school’s Principal – Ms. Marva Gordon, Methodist School Board Secretary – Ms. Pearl Mulrain, the P.T.A. President – Mrs. Biance Bejai-St. Louis and Superintendent Pastor Rev. Derrick Richards.  Valedictorians were Caroline Kirk and Amani Alexander. The Expression of Gratitude was done by graduates Kelsey Mark & Kirdeen Spencer.

The occasion also climaxes a victorious year for the school’s Steelband.  Earlier - having adapted to the theoretical and practical aspects of music - the school had entered the National Primary Schools Music Festival and placed third after landing the second position in the South Eastern District. Their tune of choice was “Let there be Peace on Earth.”

The institution’s Music instructor Noel Skair brings to the education table a wealth of experience, having played with the likes of Sunland, Dixieland and Texaco Sky Chief Steelbands; he is now the leader of Pan Vibes.  As an arranger, Skair, apart from arranging for Pan Vibes, also did the same for World Wide, Belmont Fifth Dimension and Scrunters Pan Groove, among others.

Steelpan arranger and Princes Town Methodist School music instructor Noel Skair with the 2011 Graduating Class
Steelpan arranger and Princes Town Methodist School music instructor Noel Skair with the 2011 Graduating Class

Skair has brought home “Silver” ware with World Wide Steelband in the Single Pan category of the national Panorama; ‘Best of the Rest’ competition with Belmont Fifth Dimension and; the Chutney Soca Competition with Scrunters Pan Groove.  He has also travelled extensively throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

This is not the first year that Skair has worked with the graduating class from Princes Town Methodist School, in readying them for memorable musical displays as they depart the educational institution for their secondary endeavours.  Both the graduating Class of 2009 and Class of 2010 also delivered performances in the presence of proud mothers, fathers, teachers and others as they, too, bade goodbye to their school and moved on to respective institutions of higher learning.

Edited by When Steel Talks



by Hollis Clifton
Pan Diaspora Visionary

pandiaspora@gmail.com

 
 

 

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