CASYM
Steel
Orchestra
at
practice
New York,
USA -
Little
people, big
people,
young
people,
mature
people and
lots of
parents dot
CASYM’s pan
yard on
Church
Avenue. Not even the
constant off
and on
drizzle of
rain can
zap the
energy and
commitment
of these
young CASYMites.
It is now
after 12:00
a.m.
Well past
the normal
bedtime of
these young
people as
the section
leaders
guide them
through
another
round of
the newly
added music.
CASYM
Steel
Orchestra
at
practice
On one
night, some
of the
younger
children
jumped rope,
played tag,
and in fact
engaged in
any activity
that took up
their
attention -
it was like
a kiddie “night” care
(instead of kiddie
daycare) in other
parts of the
large pan
yard, and it
was taking
place under
the aegis of
the elders
and in the
safety of
the pan
community.
On another
night, in the
bleachers
are
tiny-mites
who
entertain
themselves
with video
games, and
children’s
games, while
their older
family
members, and
many times
- their parents, run
through the
parts under
the watchful eyes
and count of
the drill
master,
Nigel
Williams.
Nigel is
considered
one of the
best drill
masters in
the
business.
In fact WST
(When Steel
Talks) witnessed Mr.
Williams
putting
every single
player -
more than
sixty of
them - to
the test
over a
select
passage.
Each player
was made to
play the
part aloud -
solo.
With a
little more
than a week
to go before
the
2010 New York
steelband
panorama competition, CASYM’s
panorama
form is
beginning to
take shape.
Veteran
players, CASYM
players -
past and
present, are
falling into
the line.
Indeed, Tichard
Chapman is
once again
anchoring
the band on
drums. And
once again
the
compelling CASYM Steel
Orchestra
will take
the panorama
stage with
the maximum
100-player
entourage.
CASYM
Steel
Orchestra
at
practice
This year
CASYM will
be
performing ‘Tell
Dem’
sung by
Roland
“Rembunction”
Yearwood and
composed by
Arddin
Herbert,
Ricardo
Jones and
Roland
Yearwood.
Looking to
return the CASYM
franchise to
its
championship
form,
arranger Arddin Herbert will once
again lead
CASYM into
this year’s
competition.
Since its
2006 win, CASYM has
continually
knocked on
the door
with two
second-place
and one
third place
finish in
their last
three
consecutive
panorama
competitions.
CASYM’s new
panyard
is located
in the heart
of
Brooklyn’s
Caribbean
community on
Church
Avenue.
In
Pictures
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