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Vanessa ‘Pans’ her way to the top at Berklee College of Music
- gains full scholarship

Berklee Five-Week Summer Performance Programme

In another When Steel Talks Exclusive - Pan Visionary Hollis J. Clifton chats with Pan Gem, Vanessa Alexandra Headley

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
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:

  •  Sharing the beauty of our National Instrument with the global community and;

  •  Demonstrating that the steelpan is a bona fide musical instrument that can hold its own in any musical context.”

“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
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
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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by Hollis Clifton
Pan Diaspora Visionary

pandiaspora@gmail.com

 

If you are interested in stories like this and of how the steelpan, the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, has impacted the universe you could follow the website: www.pangenealogy.com; or contact info@pangenealogy.com.
 

 

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