Methanex Rewards ‘Symphony and Steel’ Winners for High Quality Compositions

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Methanex Trinidad, in collaboration with the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Music Literacy Trust, challenged composers internationally to create new music that integrates the Symphonic Orchestra and the Steel Orchestra.

The competition ‘Symphony & Steel’ is a Methanex Trinidad education initiative that provides teaching material for use by the UWI Department of Creative and Festival Arts (DCFA) in its Degree and Certificate programs in Musical Arts. Combining symphonic instruments with Trinidad and Tobago’s steelpan is an innovative approach that will make the country’s local music more accessible and appreciated by an international audience.

The competition invited music scores in three categories – an overture, steelpan concerto and arranged calypso from Trinidad and Tobago. Methanex awarded first and second prizes of TT$30,000 and TT$10,000 respectively to winners in each of the three categories.

DCFA Head Satanand Sharma was very pleased with the quality of 23 compositions received from 18 composers when the competition closed. “The level of detail and talent displayed is remarkable,” he commented. “The Department of Creative and Festival Arts is certainly proud of this pioneering initiative that fulfils the strategic vision of the Department to promote and provide growth opportunities that are rewarding to artistes and that benefit Caribbean societies and by extension the rich tapestry of world music.”

Overture:
1^st      CAPRICE by Gary Gibson of Washington, USA
2^nd     STEEL TONALITY by Andre Rouse of Toronto, Canada

Calypso Arrangement:
1^st     RAINORAMA by Gary Gibson of Washington, USA
2^nd    OBEAH WEDDING by Kurleigh Lowe of New York, USA

Steelpan Concerto:
1^st      ONLY WHEN ETERNITY NEARS by Ben Wahlund of Illinois, USA
2^nd     STEELPAN CONCERTO by Verlier Brunner of Trinidad and Tobago.

Contact: Deborah Samaru, Manager, Public Affairs, Methanex Trinidad Limited
               1 (868) 679-4400 ext 2159                    email: dsamaru@methanex.com