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Web Posted - Monday December 31, 2012
The Plymouth Herald

Steel band gets £500 donation

Plymouth, England, U.K. - A school steel band has received £500 from Colebrook Community Association.

Every year students and staff in the steel and samba bands at Ridgeway School rehearse continuously to support local events including the Colebrook Carnival.

This year the Ridgeway School band's equipment was in need of maintenance and the music department would have struggled to find the fee.
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Web Posted - Sunday December 30, 2012
When Steel Talks

Song for Panorama 2013

“People’s Choice”

sung by “Dr. WillB”
composed by William Bannister & Clive Telemaque

Global - “Dr. WillB” has been an avid Pan player and is also a calypsonian.  He has performed with the Klassic Ruso calypso tent in Trinidad.  With his parents hailing from Tobago and Barbados respectively, “Dr. WillB” is a true Caribbean man who has Trinidad and Tobago culture deeply entrenched in him.

For the 2013 Panorama season “Dr. WillB” aka William Bannister has released “People’s Choice,” contributing both vocals and lyrics, with Clive Telemaque writing the music.
click to hear song

Web Posted - Sunday December 30, 2012
Trinidad & Tobago Newsday

NGC ‘tide’ lifts La Brea, Couva

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - After years of giving financial assistance to several bands throughout Trinidad and Tobago, the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NGC) has decided to take their involvement with the steelpan to a higher level through the sponsorship of two bands.

The two lucky steelbands are the Couva Joylanders and the La Brea Nightingales and there are plans to include other bands in the near future.

NGC announced its full sponsorship of two steelbands, one in central Trinidad and the other in the deep south, earlier this month.

The NGC vision for the steelbands’ development, however, will provide the bands with much more than the average sponsorship package.
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Web Posted - Sunday December 30, 2012
The Trinidad Guardian

Steelband history remembered in St. James

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - It was an occasion for reminiscing by several elders of the steelband movement, an entity that represents the most interesting and inspiring developments in grass-roots musical creation and culture. The venue was Pan Connoisseurs Pan Theatre on the Western Main Road, St James, on Saturday afternoon where they gathered to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Point Cumana Boys Town Steel Orchestra’s winning the first Steelband Music Festival on March 11, 1952.

The festival was an introductory steelband category in the biannual Music Festival hosted by the Trinidad Music Association. It was staged at the Globe Cinema in Port-of-Spain where the band was required to play the test piece Under The Marabella Bridge and a tune of choice, for which it chose the selection You Are My Heart's Delight.
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Web Posted - Friday December 28, 2012
When Steel Talks

Song for Panorama 2013

“Trini Girls”

sung & composed by Jimmy Chambers

Global - Trinidad & Tobago–born Jimmy Chambers immigrated to England with great expectations of being a successful singer and realised that ambition, counting his achievements as co-founder of the famed Londonbeat (“I’ve Been Thinking About You”).  He has also recorded with major artists such as Tina Turner and Fine Young Cannibals. 

In 2005 Jimmy wrote and collaborated with the group Laventille Rhythm Section of Trinidad and Tobago with the songs “Warriors” and “North Stand.”  For 2013 he comes with two new songs for the Panorama and Carnival season, one of which is “Trini Girls,” in which he pays homage to the beauties of his Caribbean homeland.
click to hear song

Web Posted - Wednesday December 26, 2012
Stirling Observer

Lornshill’s steel drum band

Lornshill Academy welcomes 30 steel drums

Clackmannanshire, Scotland - Sounds of the Caribbean are coming to Clackmannanshire after Lornshill Academy welcomed 30 steel drums from the island of Trinidad last week.

The Ochil Steel Band will be formed after the holidays, headed by teacher Maureen Howitt.

....Last week £10,000 worth of drums arrived at the school, with plans underway to start on January 8 with two after-school groups.
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Web Posted - Wednesday December 26, 2012
Trinidad Express Newspapers

Couva Joylanders gets new pan complex

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Players and management of Couva Joylanders Steel Orchestra are going into Panorama 2013 with new sponsorship from the National Gas Company (NGC).

As a result, the band will hold its practice sessions in a newly built pan complex at Railway Road, Couva, built by the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure in conjunction with NGC.

However, the band has been told by its NGC sponsor that both the sponsorship and pan complex come with great responsibility.

At the recent opening of the pan complex, NGC's President Indar Maharaj said, "We (NGC) will work in collaboration with the management of the band to equip its members with the skills to manage the affairs of the organisation in a professional, business-like manner. This will not only ensure the efficient conduct of the band's business, but it will also promote self-sufficiency and the long-term viability of NGC Couva Joylanders."
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Web Posted - Monday December 24, 2012
The State

Eau Claire steel band drumming up lots of energy

South Carolina, USA - Adrian Adams taps out a 3/4 beat with his director’s baton and suddenly the students in Room C-113 at Eau Claire High School explode with fierce intensity as they pound out rhythms on the steel pans that form the Mighty Shamrock Steel Band.

The innovative “Carol of the Bells” rises up in an intense cacophony of sound – front line lead pans tingly with high notes, mid-range double second pans smoothly filling in, the bass pans rumbling up in a deep rolling sound. In the back, drummer Terry Brown comes in with a frenetic beat and electric bass guitarist Phillip Burnett rounds the sound out.

Music teacher Adams grins widely and the students smile back, all caught up in the pure joy of making music.
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Web Posted - Thursday December 20, 2012
Trinidad Express Newspapers

Unsponsored steelbands get support for Panorama 2K13

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Fifty unsponsored steel orchestras received cheques to help them prepare for Panorama 2013 from Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago Foundation on Tuesday evening at Scotia Centre, Park Street, Port of Spain.

This year being the nation's 50th anniversary of Independence, the bank decided to give cheques to an equal number of bands. This initiative is a key event on the calendar of the Foundation which oversees the philanthropic and charitable work of the bank.
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Web Posted - Thursday December 20, 2012
When Steel Talks

From Tiny Mites to Champions, CASYM’s tradition and legacy continue

Brooklyn, New York - There are very few accolades that have not been bestowed on CASYM (Caribbean American Sports & Cultural Youth Movement, Inc.) Steel Orchestra and its parent organization for success of its unparalleled musical, educational and community programs. But after again witnessing first-hand their annual Holiday Extravaganza it never gets old. The annual show held at the Brooklyn Museum showcases the artistic and creative talents of New York’s most prized resource and artists - the youth.

The tender age of some of the performers did not take away from the abilities of the evening’s entertainers on the big stage. After long hours of practice in the weeks leading up to the show, these up-and-coming musicians and enthusiastic dancers excitedly put on displays...
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Web Posted - Thursday December 20, 2012
Trinidad Express Newspapers

Despers comes down the hill for Panorama

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Even though WITCO Desperadoes is currently practising at its original homebase "on the hill" giving rise to speculation that it will spend the Carnival season there, come January 2013, Desperadoes will be located at the corner of Queen's Park East and Cadiz Road once again.

Manager Finbar Fletcher said, "We will practise in the panyard until one week before the semifinals. We need the space to lay out the band properly."

....Desperadoes has already started rehearsals for the Carnival season but has not chosen any one song. The band has been practising four songs from which will choose one.
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Web Posted - Wednesday December 19, 2012
When Steel Talks

NYU Steel is on it! - From Ben Lion to Roaring Lion

New York Knows Pan!

New York, NY, USA - The late great Andre Tanker, (Trinidadian songwriter and musician) would have been thrilled to see and hear his song “Ben Lion” being performed at an American university thousands of miles away from his land of birth. And similarly, the great and legendary calypsonian Roaring Lion would have been equally moved by the care, clarity, outlining of historical context and respect paid by Josh Quillen, an American music professor and performing artist, to Roaring Lion’s genius, works, culture and impact. Quillen explained who the Roaring Lion was and the importance of his music works to the audience on hand, before a delivery of a version of his composition “Song of Peace” by NYU (New York University) Steel.
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Web Posted - Friday December 14, 2012
The Trinidad Guardian

Is Carnival time again

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Aside from the first prize in next year’s National Panorama competition, the champion steel orchestra in the large band category might also be in line for a concert tour of Nigeria. Last weekend, Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz, just back from the North Africa state, disclosed that the Nigerian vice-president and Pan Trinbago affiliates in Nigeria have expressed a desire to host the C2K13 National Panorama winner.

At present, Panorama (medium) champion Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille is winding down a concert tour of Nigeria. Diaz was high in praise of the performances he witnessed by Sound Specialists on the African continent. Last Friday, I told you about who will be arranging for some of the steelbands in next year’s Panorama competition, and was besieged by pan people chiding me for omitting theirs. What most pan people, and calypsonians as well, don’t seem to understand, is that some of their peers are better organised than they are, and more forthcoming with information.
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Web Posted - Friday December 14, 2012
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

Rejoice and be Glad

Lydian Singers and Steel offer Christmas joy with conductor Jesus Acosta, Len “Boogsie” Sharpe, Phase II Pan Groove and more

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - This weekend, the Lydian Singers and Steel offer their Christmas gift to the nation in this milestone year in the nation’s history. The concert series, “Rejoice and be Glad” began last evening with an opening performance for specially invited guests representing a cross section of society, including young people and corporate guests. The series will continue tonight at 7.30 pm and tomorrow and Sunday at 6 pm at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s.

....Lydian Steel will accompany the Vivaldi under the baton of distinguished Venezuelan guest conductor, Jesus Acosta, Maestro of the Youth Orchestra of Cariaco, Venezuela....He conducted Exodus Steel Orchestra to victory at the World Steelband Music Festival, New York, 2005, after winning The Steel Orchestra Grand Finals in Trinidad, 2004, playing Gioacchino Antonio Rossini's Ouverture to Semiramide, arranged by Acosta and Pat Bishop.

....Another very special guest is Len “Boogsie” Sharpe, well known composer and arranger of steelband music. With him is Petrotrin Phase II, celebrating this year, 40 years as a steelband. Singing with them will be the Lydians as well as the Bishop Anstey High School Choir under the direction of Lorraine Granderson. Boogsie will also be doing a solo performance.
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Web Posted - Thursday December 13, 2012
The Trinidad Guardian

Diaz denies panists stranded in Nigeria

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz has strongly denied that members of Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille are stranded in Nigeria, in response to an article published in yesterday’s edition of tt News Flash, an online news site. Carrying the byline of Rhondor Dowlat, the article stated that the State Security Service of Benue state, Nigeria, was called to rescue 18 members of the Eastern Quarries, Laventille steel orchestra on Monday from a hotel in Benue.

This was after claims were made that the pan side was misled into going to the east-central state to perform at its Carnival event. The article adds that on Tuesday the panists were being accommodated at the official residence of Benue governor Gabriel Torwua Suswam, along with T&T High Commissioner to Nigeria Nyahuma Menthuhotep Obika, who is based in Abuja, the Nigerian capital. The article went on to state that a Nigerian official alleged that the steelband left for Benue after performing at Abuja’s Carnival on “alleged” instructions by Obika that he had been contacted by persons in Benue requesting the band perform there. It was later discovered that Benue had no Carnival celebrations.

The article purports that a member of the steel orchestra said that the band’s equipment was seized by two Nigerians claiming that a huge sum of money was owed to them for transporting the band from Abuja to Benue. The sum stated to cover the remainder of the Nigerian tour was 14,532,000 Naira (US$96,880).
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Web Posted - Tuesday December 11, 2012
When Steel Talks

South-Central Region chairman Michael “Scobie” Joseph throws out Challenge to Steelbands

San Fernando, Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - “Put your steelband on a trailer with singers and bring out your own mas and hit the road for carnival.” Such were the sentiments of the Southern Marines Steelband Foundation leader in his capacity as the new voice of Pan Trinbago South Central Region (SCR) on December 7.

....Scobie applauded the efforts of Sheppard and his youthful members not only for bringing their own mas, but also for the auto-mobility of the orchestra backed by vocalists… a first for San Fernando, south Trinidad.
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Web Posted - Tuesday December 11, 2012
SXMIslandtime

21^st annual “Pan in paradise” steel pan concert to be held December 29^th

Philipsburg, St. Maarten - Dow's Musical Foundation and the Ebony Steel Orchestra under the leadership of Sir Isidore York aka the Mighty Dow, is presenting its 21st annual "Pan in paradise" steel pan concert, with this year's theme "Sound of Steel" featuring the Ebony steel Orchestra.

....The Ebony Steel Orchestra performs regularly on St. Maarten for various occasions, and special events, at Hotels, Restaurants, Schools, Churches, parades, the airport and harbor facilities, much more.

The orchestra comprises of student and adult members of all ages.

....This year's concert promises to be an exiting one, with a program filled with a variety of renditions performed mainly on the steel pan, and other enchanting vocals by: Sir Isidore York a.k.a. the Mighty Dow, Erno York a.k.a. Young Dow and Ms. Shadira Arrindell.
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Web Posted - Monday December 10, 2012
The Trinidad Guardian

Central steelband gets temporary home
 

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The St Thomas Silver Stars, a Chaguanas steelband, has been given a temporary home until Ash Wednesday. The band, which has been in existence for six years, was evicted from the space it occupied at St Thomas Village following the death of Norman Sylvester, the band’s founder, in September.

A spokesman for the band said the instruments had been stored at Sylvester’s home. However, following his death his relatives told band members to remove the pans from the compound. Since then, the 35 band members have not been able to practise and the pans were put into storage.
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Web Posted - Sunday December 9, 2012
The Washington Post

Positive Vibrations: Young steel drum players share Caribbean flair

Maryland, USA - “Completely submerged in music.”

That was how Jeremy Caesar, 23, of Beltsville described what it takes to become a good musician, and that was him this past Saturday night at the annual Christmas concert of First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville.

With the steelpans, or steel drums, placed at center stage, Caesar controlled the pulse of the orchestra, creating the heartbeat of the live performance. The Georgetown Chorale gave voice to the music, echoing throughout the church.

A heartbeat, a voice: This concert even had hips — the swinging and swaying, “wining” and wobbling of the Positive Vibrations Youth Steel Orchestra. Together, the ensemble brought the warmth and radiance of Trinidad and Tobago to Hyattsville, through the lush, vibrant sound that is the steelpan.
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Web Posted - Saturday December 8, 2012
Telecompaper

bmobile powers Digital Pan expansion

Global - bmobile, the mobile division of Telecommunications Services of T&T (TSTT), has powered the launch of an application dubbed ‘Digital Pan’. The Digital Pan Mobile App was developed by Caribbean software application development company Digital Business. Employees were challenged to create an app in the categories Games, Business, Social and Educational. Out of the fifty entrants, Christian Lalla emerged as winner with his steel pan app and won an iPad 2.

The Digital Pan took six months to develop. The app reproduces authentic steel pan sound of the various steel pans. bmobile powered the international expansion of the complete digital pan app. Through their sponsorship of 7 of the 9 steel pan sets, the complete app can be downloaded by users worldwide free of charge.
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Web Posted - Friday December 7, 2012
Trinidad & Tobago Newsday

Holistic schools give thanks at Little Carib

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Len “Boogsie” Sharpe, Lutalo “Brother Resistance” Masimba, Edwin “Crazy” Ayoung and students from Holistic Primary School and Music School, plan to raise the roof at the Little Carib Theatre, when they invoke the memory of its founder, dance legend Beryl McBurnie, to tell the history of Trinidad and Tobago, through music, dance and poetry.

The schools will stage “T&T: ‘Just’ The Two of Us” a theatrical celebration of Trinidad and Tobago’s 50th Anniversary of Independence, for general audiences, on tomorrow and Sunday at the Little Carib Theatre in Woodbrook.

The production will feature the music of André Tanker, Lutalo “Brother Resistance” Masimba, David Rudder, Denyse Plummer, Edwin “Crazy” Ayoung, Ella Andall, Kees Dieffenthaller, Len “Boogsie” Sharpe....

Arrangers include Pelham Goddard, Everald “Redman” Watson....
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Web Posted - Thursday December 6, 2012
TSTT.com

bmobile boosts Digital Pan global success

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - If you’ve ever wanted to play the steel pan and never had the opportunity then you’d squeal with delight to know that there is now an app for that. The Digital Pan Mobile App is one of the most authentic sounding steel pan apps and was developed by Digital Business, a local Software Application Development Company based in Curepe following a competition held by the company.

....“Through innovation, users can play up to ten notes at the same time with multi-touch, record and replay tracks. The notes of the Digital Pan can also be toggled on/off as a teaching aid.” The Digital Pan supports most of themajor smart phones and tablet devices including iOS, Android and Windows, Phone 7.

Since its launch last year, the app has been downloaded in Trinidad and Tobago and another 127-plus countries around the world including India, Japan, New Zealand, England, France, Chile, Iran, US, Canada, Pakistan, Cuba, Russia and the Philippines. As of the end of November 2012, the number of downloads exceeded 83,000. “The international level of interest surpassed even our expectations,” Questel said.
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Web Posted - Wednesday December 5, 2012
Bates News

Jazz band, steel pan orchestra, gamelan orchestra wrap up semester

Three musical ensembles featuring Bates students will perform Dec. 5, 6 and 8 in the Olin Arts Center Concert Hall

Maine, USA - Led by Tom Snow, the Bates Jazz Band performs a diverse array of styles at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5. The band will offer jazz, Latin jazz, and blues by composers Cole Porter, Billy Strayhorn, Kenny Durham, Thelonious Monk and others. Snow is well-known in Maine and beyond as a jazz pianist.

Erica Butler directs the Bates Steel Pan Orchestra in concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6. The program consists of “Got a Little Something for You” by Antiguan musician King Obstinate; Rihanna’s “Disturbia”; Bryan Adams’ “We’re In Heaven”; and the Blondie classic “Heart of Glass.” Butler performed for many years with the Atlantic Clarion Steel Band.
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Web Posted - Wednesday December 5, 2012
Wboy.com

Steel Drum Workshop Held at Bridgeport Middle School

West Virginia, USA - Some Bridgeport Middle School students enjoyed a taste of the tropics Wednesday and it was all thanks to a professor at West Virginia University.

Dr. Ellie Mannette, the father of the Modern Steel Drum, held a workshop at the school Wednesday.

Mannette talked about the history of the instrument and he and his staff tuned the school's steel drums.
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Web Posted - Sunday December 2, 2012
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

Pan Trinbago in disarray again

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Pan Trinbago’s membership is in uproar once again. This time it is because regional elections, called for last Wednesday, failed to take place due to lack of quorums and decisions taken by the central executive against candidates vying for positions. The decision has caused anger among membership in the regions because they only found out about the move by the central executive on the day of the elections.

In an interview on Friday, Vernon Morancie, incumbent chairman of the Eastern Region, said a joint statement prepared by the heads of the Northern, Eastern and Tobago regions had initially been sent to Pan Trinbago secretary, Richard Forteau, asking for the elections to be postponed until the outcome of a civil action taken by some members contesting the central executive elections.
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Web Posted
When Steel Talks - Special

Champion Panorama Tunes of Trinidad and Tobago

Global - A critical component to winning any panorama competition is the song the orchestras choose to use as the basis of their panorama arrangements. Over the years these songs have inspired classic panorama arrangements. When Steel Talks invites you to take a look at and listen to, these famed tunes which have played more than just a cursory part in the history of Pan, and the lives of the players and fans.
click to hear and/or view