Web Posted - Wednesday March 20, 2010
by When Steel Talks

President of PANCH Swiss Steelband Association

Global - Meet Brigitte Fischer, musician, steelpan player and president of "PANCH" the Swiss Steelband Association. There are over 150 steelbands in Switerland.

Ms. Fisher is the first female president of the Swiss Steelband Association.
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Web Posted - Thursday March 18, 2010
The Oxford Press

Ohio, USA - The Miami University Steel Band will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, March 26, in Hall Auditorium on Miami’s Oxford campus. Special guests Oberlin Steel, from Oberlin College, and Rusty Burge, percussionist and jazz vibraphonist, also will perform.

The Miami band is directed by Chris Tanner, associate professor of music and founder and director of the Miami Steel band. Tanner will lead the groups in a performance of “Pan Night and Day,” by Trinidadian pannist and arranger Liam Teague.
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Web Posted - Wednesday March 17, 2010
by When Steel Talks

Global - Top Tobago steelpan music women Zwena and Binta Carrington are in the spotlight, talking about their love for the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago - the steelpan - as well as their life experiences surrounding the culture and art form.
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Web Posted - Wednesday March 17, 2010
San Jacinto Community College

Texas, USA - The Central campus’ choir and steel drum band will combine forces for the world premier of “In the Shadows of the Forest,” a pioneer work exclusively composed for steel band and choir. The concert, which is free and open to the public, will take place on March 25 at 7 p.m. in Slocomb Auditorium, located at 8060 Spencer Hwy in Pasadena.

The 45-minute steel drum/choral score is composed by Seattle, Washington steel panist Gary Gibson, who recently won Trinidad’s “Symphony & Steel” composition contest, which encouraged new works for orchestra with steel pan ensemble. This is Gibson’s first composition to combine choir with steel band. He will spend a week in residence at San Jacinto Community College to assist in the preparation of the concert.
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Web Posted - Wednesday March 17, 2010
Catonsville Times

Maryland, USA - A special performance by Catonsville High School Steel Drum Band, under the direction of Jim Wharton, will begin the University of Maryland School of Law's annual music series this year.

The band, with a repertoire ranging from classical to jazz and rock, will perform at noon, March 18, as part of the "Lunch Under the Pipes" series in Westminster Hall, Fayette and Greene streets in Baltimore.
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Web Posted - Sunday March 14, 2010
by When Steel Talks

Global- The name ‘Anne Fridal’ reverberates throughout the Caribbean and wider world within operatic and theatrical performances circles as few others. Ms. Fridal has performed all over the globe at some of the most distinguished performance halls. This world-renowned dramatic soprano hails from the twin island-republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and has also performed with several steel orchestras.
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Web Posted - Sunday March 14, 2010
Kaieteur News Online

Guyana, S.A. - The National Schools Choir and Steel Orchestra which the late Dr Desrey Fox reactivated will not be demolished. Education Minister, Shaik Baksh, has pledged to ensure that the project be completed as a tribute to her for her contributions to Guyana.

....According to Baksh, her passion for the promotion of aesthetic education, cultural activities, music, dance, drama as it relates to education led her to take steps to re-activate the

 National Schools Choir and Steel Orchestra.
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Web Posted - Friday March 12, 2010
by When Steel Talks

United Kingdom - The University of Cambridge is the second oldest university in England and the fourth oldest in Europe. Cambridge is consistently ranked in the world's top five universities and placed as the leading university in Europe, by numerous media and academic rankings. Pan has been in British education since 1969 when Gerald Forsythe OBE set up the first school steel band in London. Many schools adopted the instrument and it is very much a part of musical education in schools and community groups.  Many of these forums have been formed by British Steel bands. The arrival of the first ‘all female’ college steel band and the first Cambridge University Steel Pan Society (CUSPS) are recent developments in the progression of Pan in education.
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Web Posted - Friday March 12, 2010
The Huffington Post

New York, USA - Where Curtis Jordan grew up, the sound of steel drums is more than familiar.

"There's so many millions of drums in Trinidad that if you turn left, you see a drum," Jordan said. "If you turn right, you see a drum."

But in the New York City subway system, where Jordan has played the drums for the past 13 years, they aren't quite as common.

Jordan, who lives in Brooklyn and plays with steel orchestra bands there and throughout the city, said his performance space of choice is the 6-train platform at 14th Street Union Square. Over the years, he has come to know the area as his "office."
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Web Posted - Friday March 12, 2010
by When Steel Talks

New York - Four pioneering participants from the steel band movement’s infancy in New York will be featured in a panel discussion focused on the art form in its New York incarnation, which will be presented Thursday evening March 18 by the Trinidad & Tobago Folk Arts Institute in conjunction with the School of Professional & Community Development of Medgar Evers College.
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Web Posted - Thursday March 11, 2010
Trinidad Guardian

Trinidad & Tobago - A two-hour pan music presentation at Monday’s 29th Biennial T&T Music Festival at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s, has music adjudicator Dr John Paul Johnson convinced that he made the right choice in accepting the invitation to preside over this year’s event.

He’s today persuaded that this country’s music-making potential is rich. “What I saw today... if that is any indication of what it’s like here in T&T, is phenomenal. It’s some of the best music development skills I have seen anywhere that I’ve been around the world,” Johnson said, after witnessing 18 contestants in Class 32 Steelpan Solo—Finals, featuring contestants 12 and under.”
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Web Posted -Wednesday 10, 2010
The Explorer

Arizona, USA - Jovert, the award-winning Tucson-based steel drum band, continues the 2009-'10 Cultural Concert Series at Steam Pump Ranch on Friday, March 19. The event, put on by the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance, starts at 6:30 p.m. that Friday on the green at the Steam Pump Village shopping center off North Oracle Road, just north of First Avenue. Admission is free of charge. Students from Tucson High Magnet School comprise the ranks of Jovert.

The outfit dances to the beat of a different drum line.
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Web Posted - Wednesday March 10, 2010
Trinidad & Tobago Newsday

Trinidad & Tobago - Just two days after a benefit concert was held to raise funds for WACK 90.1 FM radio presenter, David “DJ Heshimu” Graham, the popular cultural activist passed away.

DJ Heshimu died of heart disease on Monday night.....DJ Heshimu had hosted the show “Pan In Yuh Pwewfen” many times alongside Hollis Clifton and was also a performer in his own right. He was an African drummer par excellence and had been featured on background vocal tracks for many of TT’s soca stars, including Machel Montano
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Web Posted - Wednesday March 10, 2010
Montgomery News

Pennsylvania, USA - The music of the steel drum will probably take you back to the sounds of your last Caribbean cruise, but even so, you haven’t heard anything yet like the 15-piece ensemble of the University of Delaware, Delaware Steel, director professor Harvey Price said.

“If they haven’t heard the band, it’s a really wonderful ensemble. If they haven’t heard the music, I think they’re in for a real ear-opening experience,” Price said.
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Web Posted - Tuesday March 9, 2010
Trinidad Express

Trinidad & Tobago - It’s an interesting selection for parents looking to put a local book in their children’s hands for story time. Panman Presents ’The Sweet Sound of Steel’, by Tarquin Lougheide, is, according to the author, ’an invaluable book with a bit of steelpan history that may help enhance children’s appreciation for their culture’.

Born and raised in Trinidad, Lougheide moved to Canada about 20 years ago, but his love for pan music and his experience working in the arts in Trinidad motivated him to take on the project of creating a children’s book series based on something from his homeland.
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Web Posted - Monday March 8, 2010
by When Steel Talks

Global - It’s March and that means this is Women’s Month. It is the month when we celebrate the contributions of women to the world. Normally - as it is a When Steel Talks tradition - we highlight the month through a series of articles and interviews with the female movers, shakers, and up and coming stars.
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Web Posted - Sunday March 7, 2010
by When Steel Talks

Global - As part of our ongoing effort to provide the global steelpan music community access to great music with stellar performances, When Steel Talks is pleased to announce that we will be carrying the free online live stream of the upcoming NIU (Northern Illinois University) concert on the WST steelband music network. The NIU Steelband will perform a combined concert with the NIU Jazz Ensemble.
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Web Posted - Friday March 5, 2010
Trinidad & Tobago Guardian

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - American music adjudicators presiding over the 29th Biennial T&T Music Festival, taking place at venues across the country, have put in a request with event co-ordinator Marie-Diane Dupres to visit the panyard of BP Renegades Steel Orchestra. It seems they still can’t get over the impressive panmanship they heard from the nine-time National Panorama champion at Sunday’s gala opening, held at Queen’s Hall in St Ann’s, Port-of-Spain. They want to know how Renegades, led by Everald “Redman” Watson, achieved such silky presentations of Frederic Chopin’s works when some of the world’s leading musicians aren’t able to capture the intent of the composer. Desmond Waithe is Renegades’ classical director. Dr John Paul Johnson, from Wichita State University, Dr Jan Harrington and Dr Carmen Helena Pellez, both of Indiana University, expressed delight over the band’s deliveries at the gala.
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Web Posted - Friday March 5, 2010
by When Steel Talks

Buckinghamshire, U.K. - SV2G (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2^nd Generation) has been granted the Inspire Mark- the badge of the London 2012 Inspire Programme.  SVG2  Steelpan Stepping Stone project funded by the Arts Council England will build the capacity of Wycombe Steel Orchestra and the steelpan development within Bucking-hamshire will be performing at the Wycombe Community Festival that will be part of the Cultural Olympiad London 2010 Games this year July.
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Web Posted - Friday March 5, 2010
Columbia Star

South Carolina, USA - Nearly 20 performers, ages 9–64, from The Steel Band Project, LLC, joined forces with members of the Island Close By Steel Band and J’Ouvert Steel Band at the Colonial Life Arena on February 23, 2010, for the Jimmy Buffett Summerzcool Concert Tour Pre–Party.

Charlotte Broome, a member of the All–Stars said, “It was great to play for the huge crowd, and I loved playing with the kids and the Island Close By guys.”

The Steel Band Project (Dr. Chris Lee, owner) is a new Columbia based learning and performance center where individuals, families, and groups learn the art of playing steel drums and drum sets in a class setting.
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Web Posted - Thursday March 4, 2010
The Muffin Post

St. Kitts/Nevis - At a brief ceremony to review the National Anthems to be played at the start of each game during the preliminary women’s fixtures for the ICC WT20 WI 2010 in St. Kitts, the St. Kitts All-star Steel Orchestra was given rave reviews for their four renditions.

This function was the first of its kind and was witnessed by officials involved in the planning of the Sportainment component of the games. The session was chaired by Captain Nigel “Numpy” Williams, who gave a brief introduction of the anthems which were played. Sportainment Coordinator Mr. Cosbert Manchester gave the opening remarks and introduced the panel of reviewers which included musician, Calvin Esdaille, music trainer and conductor, Pam Wall, and pan player extraordinaire, Alexis Knight.
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Web Posted - Wednesday March 3, 2010
The Daily Herald

Philipsburg, St. Maarten - Entertaining us and musically educating the youth for more than 30 years, Isidore York, known as the Mighty Dow, is an island treasure and a staple in Carnival. Born on the Friendly Island in the lovely month of April, the Mighty Dow has been working hard to reach his objective of supporting the local youth to reach higher standards of performance. With a passion for steel-pan music, the Mighty Dow is a renowned calypsonian and an accomplished steel pan instructor, entertainer, musical arranger and vocalist.
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Web Posted - Wednesday March 3, 2010
Beaver County Times

Pennsylvania, USA - Kevin Guerrieri, an Edgeworth Elementary third-grader selected to shake a watermelon-sized noisemaker at the center of a steel drum storm, admitted his ears were ringing and his arms ached with fatigue. But he wasn’t complaining.

“It felt great,” he said. “I could see everybody dancing.”

Guerrieri was one of more than 160 Quaker Valley School District students who boarded a bus early Wednesday afternoon for a steel band performance at Ambridge Area High School. The journey carried them through ancient Africa, across some Caribbean islands, and into North America in the 19th and 20th centuries, and included Calypso-flavored visits with the Nutcracker ballet, British pop band Coldplay and Disney World.
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Web Posted - Tuesday March 2, 2010
by When Steel Talks

Global - Widely-followed and much-loved Trinidad & Tobago WACK 90.1 fm radio presenter, David “DJ Heshimu” Graham, is facing extremely severe health challenges, and is in immediate need of love, prayers, and - most of all - financial support. Funds are needed urgently to assist Heshimu, a down-to-earth and true “Pan lover” (aka ‘Barrel’ Lover)!

Coming together this weekend in one accord on Heshimu’s behalf are pride of Trinidad’s southland - Skiffle Bunch Steel Orchestra - Ken “Professor” Philmore, Francis Prime, Joanne Foster, Leroy “Black Stalin” Calliste, Errol Fabien, Earl Brooks, and many more.
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Web Posted - Monday March 1, 2010
London Free Press

London, U.K. - Far from the ongoing human tragedy in Haiti, the sweet rhythmic tinkles of a steel band were shared with Londoners Saturday in a bid to help the shattered Caribbean nation.

The Golden Harps Steel Orchestra held a fundraiser to draw attention to the ongoing need for help for Haiti where one million of its nine million inhabitants remain homeless. A Jan. 12 earthquake killed more than 230,000 and reduced the impoverished nation to rubble.

"This was something we felt we could do," said event organizer, Trudy den Ouden, a native of Jamaica. "We believe it is important to keep Haiti in the news. We simply want to help."

All members of the band are originally from the Caribbean, including manager and arranger Terry Greene, who is from Trinidad, she said.
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Web Posted -
When Steel Talks

Some of the most important, controversial, thought-provoking and enlightening discussions on the steelpan instrument, music and culture worldwide, have taken place over the years on the When Steel Talks “Message board.”  Considered by many to be a lightening-rod for change in the steelpan music community, the WST message board  has provided a means unlike any for steelpan enthusiasts to share information and communicate ideas.

Windows MSN Groups has informed us that they are shutting down their groups service as of February 21, 2009.  You can now find the When Steel Talks Group at http://whensteeltalks.ning.com/forum 
We look forward to you joining us.

Web Posted -
When Steel Talks

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