Panorama 2006 Trinidad and Tobago

Date: 04.09.06

Pantonic Steel Orchestra
back at MIT for 2006
 

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Massachusetts - Pantonic Steel Orchestra returned to MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in Boston for another scintillating performance this past Friday, April 7.  Despite the threat of inclement weather complete with heavy grey clouds, the college campus would still come alive with the sound of steelband music.

Pantonic was previously scheduled to perform at 3:00 PM, but with rain looming and a few droplets actually being felt, the 'in case of rain' time and venue arrangements kicked into gear.  Their performance was rescheduled for the Auditorium just across from the student activities' building on the campus.

Students and adults alike paused to enquire if the show was cancelled when they saw Pantonic packing up their instruments while relocating to the 'rain venue.'  They were of course pleasantly relieved to find the show was still on just across the way, and a little later.  Band captain Keith Roberts made the decision for the band to begin their performance outside the building, and relocate inside if it rained in earnest.

 Just after 4:00 PM, Pantonic began their show in the light drizzle, for the crowd which had eagerly gathered in anticipation.  With new additions to their repertoire, which included Grammy award winner John Legend's Ordinary People, and staples like Perfidia and La Bamba, Pantonic had the crowd toe-tapping, chipping and others dancing around in a conga line despite the grey day.

About thirty-five minutes into their performance the rain would not be ignored and the band took a break, relocating their instruments inside the building for their upcoming second half.  The crowd also went inside for their 'food' break; like the sound of great steelband music, the news of tasty Caribbean-style morsels had also gotten around.

Members of MIT's Caribbean club ensured that no one went hungry.   A bit later their personnel sated their musical appetites for sweet steelband music as they danced away in front of Pantonic as the band performed, with respective national flags representing Caribbean countries.

Parents and students at MIT for its April 6-9 Campus Preview Weekend (CPW) got a chance to experience steelband music at its best.  The weekend afforded admitted students of the Class of 2010, their parents, as well as those of prospective freshmen, the opportunity to see the 'real MIT.' 

Pantonic, the five-time championship steel orchestra from New York was brought back to the campus after a great showcase last December.  The college's Caribbean Club - this time in conjunction with the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, and the Office of Minority Education - did a superb job in pulling off another show-stopper.  Appropriately billed Thank Goodness It's Friday, the event was funded by the MIT Committee on Campus Race Relations (CCRR).

Pantonic Steel Orchestra may be contacted via email at pantonic1@aol.com or telephone: 1 (718) 434-0231.  Visit their website at www.Pantonic.com.

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C. Phillips, Basement Press Corp.

©2006 When Steel Talks - All Rights Reserved

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Pantonic Steel Orchestra adds Pizzazz to MIT's Annual Caribbean Dinner
 

 

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