Port-of-Spain, Trinidad &
Tobago. W.I. -
Neal & Massy Trinidad All Stars
Steel Orchestra (NMTASSO) is
preparing to showcase to
Trinidad and Tobago perhaps one
of the best steelpan concerts
the world has ever seen.
In commemoration of its 75th
Anniversary, the band will
feature a multitude of talents
on November 6th and 7th, 2010, at its
Classical Jewels IX. Guest
artistes include Christopher
‘Tambu’ Herbert, UWI (University
of the West Indies) Arts
Chorale, Jacqueline Smith,
Malick Folk Performers, Clive
Telemaque, Dane Gulston, Mia
Gormandy and Yohan Popwell.
June Nathaniel, Jessel Murray
and Derek Nurse - a former
frontline player, have been
confirmed as the guest
conductors for the 2-night
event. In terms of the musical
selection, the concert will
feature a wide array of samples
from the Band’s repertoire of
Classical Music, performed over
the years from the inception of
Classical Jewels in 1974.
According to the band’s manager,
Beresford Hunte, “Classical
Jewels was a bi-annual event and
it was one of the staples on the
local, cultural calendar – an
event that pan lovers and music
aficionados supported wholly. We
thought that it was fitting to
revive the concert after such a
long hiatus, but we’re doing
more than a revival…we are
giving Trinidad and Tobago one
of the best steelpan concerts in
the history of pan.”
“The band has been practicing
daily and rigorously for the
event for the past 4 months and
we have made strides in
perfecting the classical music,
due mainly to the contribution
of people like Derek Nurse who
has taken the mantle of Musical
Director, continuing the
tradition first established by
the late Fitzgerald Jemmott, the
late Nelson Villafana and
Gillian Nathaniel” Hunte added.
“We started this journey in Hell
Yard in the 30s under the name
of Hell Yard Cross of Lorraine,
Second Fiddle and in 1947 we
carried the name of Trinidad All
Stars. In that year
Neville
Jules was appointed as the
captain of the band and brought
with him the values of
discipline, innovation,
dedication and commitment to
excellence that we still hold
today. Just 25 years short of a
century, our values have kept us
alive and successful.”
Revenue from the concert will be
directed to the orchestra’s academic
and social programs, geared
toward reducing the crime rate
among the young people in the
East Port-of-Spain community, as
well as assist in the
implementation of its adult
literacy and other personal
development programmes and
enhance its pan theatre.
NMTASSO is one of the oldest,
renowned and prolific steel
orchestras in Trinidad and
Tobago, and the world. We are the
recipient of the Humming Bird
Gold Medal from the Government
of the Republic of Trinidad and
Tobago and 6-time champions in
the National Panorama and
National Festival competitions.
We have represented our country
and culture across the globe, in
countries such as England,
China, Australia, Nigeria,
Canada, New York, Miami, France,
Spain and the Caribbean Islands.
From the
News Desk of:
Neal & Massy
Trinidad All Stars Steel
Orchestra
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