San Fernando,
Trinidad, W.I. - In response to a question from Hollis
J. Clifton about her immediate future plans,
Vanessa Alexandra Headley, a 2011 graduate of the University
of the West Indies (UWI) declared without hesitation:
“If never before, now I firmly believe
that if there is a will there is a way. At the dawning of
the year 2011, I was ruminating on what exactly was the
next step of my life. I knew for certain that it was rooted
in Music and that I HAD NO INTENTIONS of being a
one-trick-pony. I wanted
to fulfill everything that my gift allowed me to.”
“I began an on-line search for my “destiny”
if you will. ‘Summer courses for music majors.’ ‘Berklee
College of Music’ appeared as the first item in the search
engine. Skeptically, I clicked. It was as though a whole
world of opportunity had revealed itself to me. I browsed
the pages for the Five-week Summer Performance Program and
read the reviews. I distinctly remember my heart racing
as I flew off the bed and ran to tell my mother (Franka
Hills-Headley) that I knew what I wanted to do this
summer. She turned to look at me. I couldn’t read her expression,
but waited with bated breath for her response. To make a
long story short, she was thrilled, I was ecstatic. Within
the hour she had managed to ignite the same enthusiasm in
16 year-old Naparima College student, Daron Roberts and
his mom, Bernadette, as I had insisted that he go too.”
“April, May and June turned out to be
some very trying months. We had applied later than most
of the 900 applicants from across the world and it was a
race to get all our documents and funding organized in time
for the start of what was now affectionately called “5-week.”
But, sacrifices were made and we pushed real hard.
Golden Hands and some true friends selflessly supported
us in our musical quest. It was nail-biting from day to
day.”
On July 3rd, 2011, we were
on a plane to Boston, Massachusetts, albeit without all
our funding in place. The energy of our dream, fuelled by
serious prayer, and resolute parents, friends and well-wishers,
had ensured that by the time we were attending our orientation,
all school fees were paid. Though we still had accommodation
costs to cover, we were certain that the provision for that
would be seen in time. Indeed they were about two weeks
later.
Clifton:
“What was it like at Berklee?”
Vanessa:
“Berklee was everything and more than what we had expected.
Berklee has its own culture. Nestled in a city of musicians,
music is everywhere - in the malls, in the restaurants and
on the street corners. It was so refreshing to be in a non-competitive
environment where a passion for music was everyone’s driving
force. It may sound surreal, but these were true musicians,
who uplifted each other and played music together for no
particular reason. We got to understand for the first time
what “music is the universal language” really means. It
means music is equal to love.”
Clifton:
“What was the Five-week Summer Performance
Program like?”
Vanessa:
“The 5-week was a very intense music performance program
that is organized in a very enjoyable, stress-free kind
of way. It was created to make tons of information readily
available in a low-pressure environment. It was designed
to encourage accelerated learning and to equip the hungry
musician with musical life skills. Daron felt right at home
as a drummer and I was welcomed with open arms as a panist.
My double seconds, made by Master Pan builder and tuner
Bertrand Kelman, was a source of great interest. Many
people had never seen one before and they were simply enthralled
with its tone and yes, I guess, my playing especially when
I used 4 sticks (or mallets as they say).”
“The rich diversity of the 1000+ students
from across the world, immersed us in a microcosm of experiences
that is beyond my ability to adequately describe. These
young musicians, aged 14-25, are some of the best in the
world. Some are endorsed by top-of-the line music companies
and have recording contracts. Each day we learned something
new, and that is no exaggeration. The lecturers were willing
and humble. Their approach to teaching was very hands-on.
As professional musicians, they could play ANYTHING that
they were teaching. They were always practicing in their
offices or jamming with us in the concert halls and classrooms.
Their advice was priceless and we loved them all right off
the bat. Each week, world-renowned musicians would visit
the campus to perform for us and interact with us. They
took the time to answer questions and offer words of wisdom
from their experiences in the world of music. Some of them
even taught classes each week as part of the Berklee staff.”
“Such musicians included the likes of:
Dawaun Parker - Grammy Award winning multi-platinum
musician, record producer and rap artist who has worked
with Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes and Eminem;
Tia Fuller - Alto Saxophonist for Beyoncé;
Donald Harrison - Saxophonist;
Livingston Taylor - Singer/Songwriter, and;
Abe Laboriel - Mexican Bassist, referred
to as ‘the most used bassist of all time’.”
“Everyone would always stress that recreation
was just as important as practice. So the Student Activities
Centre (SAC) made sure that there was always a wide range
of activities for us to participate in – movies, Red Sox
games in Fenway Park, games, picnics and excursions. It
was impossible to not have fun.”
Vanessa at Berklee
“The last week of the program proved to
be the most hectic, but the most fulfilling. It was performance
week and every student was scheduled to perform with his/her
Ensemble at one of Berklee’s performance Halls. The ensembles
were categorized by genre –Jazz, Pop/Rock and Funk/Fusion.
Placement auditions and placement examinations took place
on the second and third day. We both had chosen Funk/Fusion
as our Ensemble of preference during the application process
and we were both successful, attaining a ¾ status. Three
(3) represented the genre of our ensemble, and four (4)
represented our level of musicianship and skill. Four is
the highest level.”
“During this week Berklee would also traditionally
feature 3 All-Star Ensembles –Pop/Rock, Funk/Fusion and
Jazz. Daron and I were in the company of 150 musicians who
auditioned for the All-Star Funk/Fusion. We were both short-listed
among the 15 that got a call-back. I was also fortunate
after a second audition, to qualify as one of six members
of the
ALL STAR Funk/Fusion Ensemble. That definitely was
a milestone for our National Instrument, and myself, I may
add, as it was broadcast all over the world and received
rave reviews.”
“It was also the week that the announcement
awards of scholarships were made. Out of a total 441 applicants
from around the world, I was one of the 71 who received
a scholarship to attend the College and complete the fulltime
Degree program. This is of great significance, as I
was the only panist at the 5-Week.
I am also the first to receive such a scholarship. This
has brought me even closer to two of my main goals:
“Daron and I returned to Trinidad on August
14th 2011, bursting with musical ideas and a whole new attitude
and approach to our music practice. We have started sharing
with our own musical brothers and sisters in Golden Hands
and we look forward to extending this to those in the wider
community.”
Clifton:
“Did not Daron win a National Award
in Trinidad during your absence?”
Daron performing with his Funk/Fusion
Ensemble
Vanessa:
“Oh yes! On the heels of a great experience, we tried
to settle down and pack to return to Trinidad. The settling
down was hopeless as we were informed that at the Trinidad
Tobago Annual National Awards Ceremony, Daron had been presented
with the 2011 National Youth Award for Music (12-17). Daron
went to bed. I called Golden Hands, who were practicing
at the time. They were oblivious of this development and
were waiting for news. Well, they demanded that I awaken
him. I did so with trepidation, as he gets a little cranky
when sleeping. The noise on the speaker phone was unbelievable
as they shouted congrats. The energy was great as they were
already celebrating the [band] captain’s (Pete Braxton)
birthday. Jonathan Grant, the 2008 Golden Hands recipient
of the award made a very succinct statement congratulating
Daron, to which we all roared in laughter. This was really
great as Daron had felt a little depressed not qualifying
for the All Star Band. I do remember that when I went for
my audition the panel commented that he was an awesome drummer.
This was really great news. Daron smiled and went back to
sleep leaving me in the phone celebration.”
“Special thanks to our Moms, Franka Hills-Headley
and Bernadette Roberts, our family - Golden Hands, friends
and well-wishers who supported us especially: Ueline Joseph,
Yvonne Hills, Andrea and Wayne Grant & Family, Dane
Hinds, Alice Thomas, Bertrand Kelman, Dr. Wendy Diaz, Sandra
Pariag & Friends, Turon Roberts, Raf Robertson, Alison
Sloane-Seale, Annette Hunte-Lessey, Andell Roberts, Anika
Phillip, Toyota Trinidad & Tobago Ltd., Cowen Duncan,
Silent Sah, Damian Melville, Dr. Anne Osborne, First Church
of the Open Bible, G Tees Print Shop, Haygem Travel Service,
Jessel Murray, Jeffrey Ali, Joyce Grant, Junior McLeod,
Keshia’s Catering, Margaret Drayton, Mark The Moment, Mr. &
Mrs. Ian Anthony, Mr. & Mrs. Knights, Neal Corke, Ora
Hillarie, Pan Elders, PANVESCO, Members of Revival Time
Assembly, San Fernando Music Festival Association, St. Peter’s
Private Primary School, Sandra Phill, Tameka Griffith, Unicomer
(Trinidad) Ltd., Valini’s, WACK RADIO, YARA.”
More on
Vanessa Headley
Vanessa is the arranger of Golden Hands Steel Orchestra
and has been arranging since the age of fourteen for the
band. She has successfully led them to 2nd
and 3rd place in the Junior Panorama on the three
occasions. In 2010 and 2011 she again led the band
to 2nd and 3rd place in the National
Panorama (Small Band).
Vanessa leading Golden Hands at
St. Margaret’s Boys A.C. Steelpan Extravaganza 2010
Among an exhaustive
list of championship titles, Vanessa has won the Trinidad
and Tobago Music Festival Adult Solo Category on three consecutive
occasions. She has also been the National Junior Under-21
solo champion, and shared in thirty of Golden Hands’ festival
trophies.
Vanessa is currently involved in composing
and transcribing music for book publications. One of these
is a bilingual work for kindergarten in three volumes. The
other is a series of folk stories and songs of Trinidad
and Tobago.
Vanessa was the first student of St. Joseph’s
Convent in San Fernando, south Trinidad, to sit the Caribbean
Examination Council (CSEC) Music Examinations. She placed
first in the Caribbean in 2004 on entering UWI to pursue
a Liberal Arts Degree in Musical Arts; Vanessa obtained
and maintained a scholarship from the Trinidad and Tobago
Music Literacy Trust for her entire period of study.
This talented young woman is always ready
to share her musical knowledge and skill. She has facilitated
music workshops in the USA and the Caribbean and teaches
CSEC music.
Her aspirations are to:
-
be a premiere international performer
and so act as a global crusader for youth empowerment
-
change the paradigm that exists in
Trinidad and Tobago with respect to career and life
paths
-
compose and direct a symphony featuring
the steelpan at international concert halls, and so
validate its authenticity and recognition as a
bona fide musical instrument.
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