|
Site Map * Site Search * Events * Headlines * Message Board * Guest Book * Pan News * Pan Radio * Pan New York * About Us * Feedback |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Destination
Philadelphia:
Philadelphia - All of a sudden there was the sound of the pitter-patter of quickly moving feet. Not one or two - but thousands of them. And then came the unmistakeable buzz of young human voices in the distance, getting louder and louder. They just kept coming in droves. Wave after wave they came, dressed in their colours and camp slogans. Yellow, red, blue, green, orange t-shits to name a few filled the ground level seats to capacity in minutes. Little people everywhere. Thousands of little people. And then they entered up in the balcony, hundreds more. And then they filtered into the lawn seats. Children of all races and backgrounds piled into the 14, 000-seat capacity Mann Center for the Performing Arts. They were all here to experience Brazilian and Caribbean culture by way of Capoeira and the steelpan instrument as part of the 2006 Young People's Concert Series.
The close and tight-knit group sho The Mann Center for the Performing Arts Young People's Concert Series targets children ages 5-11, to present culturally diverse educational programs rooted in the music and performance traditions, that highlight regional children’s performing arts groups, particularly those that feature the artistic talents of other youngsters. On this day the steelpan instrument was the focal point, and focus of attention was New York's Caribbean Youth Panoramic Steel Orchestra. The twenty-person stage side travelled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to perform for the youth-oriented audience. Dressed in their red tops and black slacks, CYP took the stage to 'oohs' and 'ahs' of the young people and performed a forty-minute set. Included therein were "From the Heart" by Robert Greenidge, "Brazil", "Skaters' Waltz" and "If I Never See You Again" - another Robert Greenidge composition - which closed off their performance.
The Mann Center program is clearly one for the world to emulate, as the success of the program is immediately seen, understood and appreciated - judging by the reaction of the young people. For them this was simultaneously an educational and entertaining experience. The free cultural performances are part of the Mann Center's mandate to connect education, art, culture and community, and to expose, enlighten and inspire the youth. This year's concert series is expected to be attended by more than 36,000 children, according to the center's president Peter Lane. In a private session after the concert Mr. Lane publicly thanked CYP for their performance and the role they have played in the success of program. The Young People's Concert Series is one of the country’s most successful music education programs presented in an outdoor cultural arts venue. The unique focus of this series is that kids perform for kids. The audience is immediately enthralled by the performances as well as the fact that it is presented by young people, like themselves. The series began on June 14 Monday and will continue through August 7, 2006.
CYP will run summer sessions for those interested in participating in the New York 2006 Steelband Music Panorama competition with the group. In addition CYP will resume its Fall through Spring music program for those interested in learning to play the steelpan instrument. All ages are welcomed. ©2006 When Steel Talks - All Rights Reserved Related LinksContact Caribbean Youth Panoramics at : 1-718-272-0695 More on Caribbean Youth Panoramics click here Contact Mann Center at: 1-215-878-0400 Copyright 2006 - When Steel Talks - All Rights Reserved. ANY REPRODUCTION, REPRINTING OR COPYING OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS, OR ANY OTHER MATERIAL - AUDIO, VISUAL OR TEXT - FROM THE BASEMENT RECORDINGS/WHEN STEEL TALKS/PANONTHENET WEBSITES, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE MANAGEMENT OF WHEN STEEL TALKS.
Share
your opinions
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Site Map * Site Search * Events * Headlines * Message Board * Guest Book * Pan News * Pan Radio * Pan New York * About Us * Feedback |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
New York's
Caribbean Youth Panoramics (CYP) left their Brooklyn panyard confines at 3:40
PM on July 25, 2006 by bus for their much-anticipated return performance
at Mann Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This would be
the second time in three years that the Brooklyn-based steel orchestra would
make this interstate trek. The last time CYP was here, in addition
to rocking the house, they set a
The kids were mesmerized and
captivated.
Their young faces beamed with excitement, anticipation and interest.
But equally as excited were the accompanying adults. Many had never
seen or heard the steelpan instrument ever before. CYP's leader,
Joseph Gerald added to the educational experience of the concert attendees by
explaining the different voices in the steelpan instrument family at the
beginning of the performance.
The success of the Young People’s Concert Series is directly connected to the vision of Education and Outreach Director, Rhoda Blount. Ms. Blount believes that "if you introduce young people to the arts at an early age, it becomes part of their lives.” CYP's performance clearly continued in this vein, as this was the first
time many of the young people present had ever seen or heard the
steelpan musical instrument.
