Web Posted - Tuesday
May 31, 2022
Antigua Observer
Panorama competition axed from 2022 Carnival line-up
This will be the third year that the Panorama
competition will not be held
Halcyon Steel Orchestra
St. John’s, Antigua & Barbuda -
The national Panorama competition will not be included in
the line-up for Carnival which is returning this year after a
two-year hiatus.
Instead, band members and officials from the Ministry of Creative
Industries have agreed to stage a number of events to ensure that steel pan
is featured throughout the annual festival.
see more
Web Posted - Tuesday
May 31, 2022
When Steel Talks
Quality Steelpan Presentations from PanoGrama 2022
Semi-final Panists
Global - When music hits, you
feel no pain! This was the mood on Sunday night at the
semi-finals of PanoGrama 2022, as twenty panists vied for one of
the ten spots up for grabs in this year’s finals. Each performer
wooed the audience on YouTube with various renditions from
different genres. Shaquille “Flogo” Forbes finished the night in
the top spot with Chick Corea’s “Spain,” followed by France’s
Mathieu Borgne who delivered sweet music with Lord Kitchener’s
“Sour Apple.” USA’s David Yundi completed the top three with his
version of “Feel the Love” by Free Town Collective and DJ
Private Ryan.
see more
Web Posted - Saturday
May 28, 2022
Caymanian Times
Steelband is here to stay - 17th Amin Mohammed Steelband Festival
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands - It was time to celebrate the best of the best again, as Cayman’s youth chimed into action with the 17th Amin Mohammed Steelband Festival, more than four solid hours of gorgeous pan music.
Director of Education Services Mark Ray, said, “There is a rhythm delivered through the steel pan that reminds us that music and timing are part of the makeup of human beings. This innate musical quality is seen in our students whenever they pick up the sticks to deliver a soca classic or a 70s pop song. There is the swaying, the bouncing, and importantly, the unity, and in 2022 that unity is needed more than ever.”
see more
Web Posted - Saturday
May 28, 2022
When Steel Talks
PanoGrama 2022 Semi-finals: Streaming of Steelpan
Performances
Global - The twenty steelpan
musicians who moved forward from the 2022 Panograma
preliminaries have their performances as semi-finalists streamed
at 8:00 p.m. AST (Atlantic Standard Time) on May 29.
see more
Web Posted - Friday
May 27, 2022
The Guardian
Notting Hill carnival partners with Glastonbury festival for
the first time
Parades with Caribbean dancers and music will wend their
way through the festival site, ending with steel band performances
London, England, U.K. - Notting Hill carnival will partner with Glastonbury festival for the first time this year, filling the site’s already colourful walkways with Caribbean floats and processions.
Until the
COVID-19 pandemic, the carnival had been staged every year
by west London’s Caribbean communities since the event coalesced in the
mid-1960s – eventually becoming Europe’s largest annual street party.
....Utilising an electric carnival float, there will be emissions-free
parades through the festival site with a sound system playing Caribbean
tracks, trailed by dancers, “mas bands” playing live music, and
stilt-walking moko jumbies. After the processions, there will be concerts
from the
Mangrove Steelband, eight-time winners of the
Panorama steel band championship held during the yearly carnival
celebrations.
see more
Web Posted - Friday
May 27, 2022
Castine Patriot
Steel drum music will fill the night air every Monday this
summer
Flash! in the Pans
Maine, USA - For over 25
years, the Blue Hill Town Park has been the place to spend
occasional summer evenings dancing or just listening to calypso
tunes played by the steel pan bands brought to life by the late
Carl Chase. This summer, this energetic and uplifting music will
entertain audiences every Monday night, from Memorial Day
through Labor Day, according to a press release.
....Two groups of musicians will headline the performances,
Flash! in the Pans and the Pan Coalition.
Flash! is the community steel pan band based in Blue Hill.
Flash! will play on nine Mondays, from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.
see more
Web Posted - Friday
May 27, 2022
Loop T&T News
Pan community issues condolences on passing of Cleveland
Garcia
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
Condolences have been pouring in for former Woodbrook councillor
Cleveland Garcia, who was well-loved by his community and was
known for his initiative ‘Pan on the Avenue.’
....Hadco
Phase
II Pan Groove also issued sincere condolences and thanked
Garcia for his efforts in bringing pan music to the fore. “We
are saddened to learn of the sudden passing of our close friend,
supporter and one of the hardest working Councilors to serve our
fellow Woodbrook residents and by extension, our beloved
country, Mr. Cleveland Garcia.
....“Dr. Len “Boogsie” Sharpe
and we at Hadco Phase II Pan Groove, extend our deepest
condolences to his family and friends. May his soul [rest in
peace].”
see more
Web Posted - Wednesday
May 25, 2022
When Steel Talks
Amin Mohammed Steelband Competition closes 2022 National
Children’s Festival of the Arts in Cayman islands
Layman Scott High School’s Senior Band plays ‘What about Us’
during the Senior Steelpan Band Competition
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands -
The Department of Education Services (DES) on the evening of
Saturday May 21 closed the curtains on the 2022 National
Children’s Festival of the Arts (NCFA) programme with the 17th annual staging of the Amin Mohammed Steelband
Competition at the John Gray High School Auditorium in collaboration with
the Cayman National Bank.
Audiences were treated to melodious steelpan
renditions of popular soca and reggae songs and classical pieces. These were
performed by eight competing soloists and 11 steel bands, one of which was
trained by music teacher and panist extraordinaire, Dr. Kassandra Scott
Salazar, who Cayman National Bank honoured on Saturday evening for her
significant contribution to steel pan education.
see more
Web Posted - Tuesday
May 24, 2022
When Steel Talks
Carnegie Hall Citywide: Pan in Motion with Asphalt Orchestra
at Bryant Park - “To Jam too”
Kendall Williams of Pan in Motion composes “To Jam too”
(World Premiere, commissioned by Carnegie Hall)
Pan in Motion at with Asphalt Orchestra at Bryant Park
New York, New York, USA -
With the backdrop of concrete, steel and green, green, grass the
Kendall Williams-led steel ensemble, Pan In Motion drops the
world premiere of his Carnegie Hall–commissioned composition “To
Jam too.”
Accompanying Pan In Motion on this hot, hot, hot 90 degrees in
the shade day in New York, Manhattan’s Bryant Park, is marching
band Asphalt Orchestra. This May 22 live performance is part of
the Carnegie Hall Citywide summer concert series.
....Having experienced Kendall’s compositions and arrangements
in the past in different settings, they always present an
immersive experience for the listeners/audience.
see more
Web Posted - Friday
May 20, 2022
When Steel Talks
High hopes to impress in PanoGrama 2022 semi-finals - Order
of Appearance & Selections
PanoGrama Founder, Nevin Roach (left) and co-host Aundrea Wharton (right), moments before announcing the PanoGrama 2022 semi-finalists
Global - During the May 6-8
PanoGrama preliminaries, 24 panists from 9 countries graced the
virtual stage to share their talent with pan enthusiasts. By the
end of the three-night display of musical competence, 20
advanced to the next round. USA, Canada, France, and T&T held
the top positions for the preliminaries, while Antigua and
Barbuda, Belize, St. Lucia, and Grenada complete the list of
countries that will be represented in the semi-finals.
....The semi-finals will stream on May 29 at 8:00 p.m. AST
(Atlantic Standard Time) and promises a diverse selection of
music.
see more
Web Posted -
Thursday
May
19, 2022
Loop T&T News
President meets with Queen Elizabeth II at Platinum Jubilee
President Paula-Mae Weekes visits Queen Elizabeth II, observes
TTDF Steel Orchestra
England, UK - Upon the
invitation of the Platinum Jubilee Celebration Committee,
President Paula-Mae Weekes recently attended the Royal Windsor
Horse Show’s presentation in the United Kingdom.
The event was in honour of the Queen’s Jubilee and saw a
performance by the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF)
Steel Orchestra.
see
more
Web Posted - Tuesday
May
17, 2022
9&10 News
Roscommon High School’s Steel Drum Syndicate Is Marching To
The Beat Of Their Own Drum
The Steel Drum Syndicate is the only band in Michigan with full
sets of instruments for both the middle school and the high
school
Michigan, USA - “I think I’ve been
doing steel band at best guess 22-23 years. This is huge for me
because I can say that I did this from scratch,” says Kilbourn.
Seth Kilbourn is the instrumental music teacher and band
director at Roscommon High School.
He started the Steel Drum Syndicate made up of different band
students.
“Once everyone’s out here and ready to roll, there’s going to be
about 44 kids between steel drums, drums and guitars, and then
the horn players.”
....Kilbourn explains, “I don’t want to say almost exclusively
rock, but it’s pretty close. Right now we’re doing music by
Rush, Led Zeppelin, The Dewey Brothers, Phil Collins, it’s just
this wide gamina of different selection.”
....“We were just at the St. Louis Festival of Steel. We’re
headed to Cleveland to perform at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of
Fame.
see
more
Web Posted - Tuesday
May
17, 2022
When Steel Talks
LMD Grant awarded to Caribbean Steelpan Connextion - First Steelpan Group to
be Acknowledged
Caribbean Steelpan Connextion
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
On Saturday May 28, 2022 Caribbean Steelpan
Connextion will be celebrating more than just the re-opening of
performance venues for live artists and bands like themselves. The
Port-of-Spain-based ensemble will be hosting the event as the first
steelpan recipients of the Live Music District (LMD) Grant which
was awarded by the Trinidad and Tobago Music Company Limited (MusicTT) to
promoters and event managers of live music acts.
see more
Web Posted - Monday
May
16, 2022
Patch
“Here Comes the Sun” steelband concert
Washington, USA - The youth steelbands
of Steel Magic Northwest will present their annual “Here Comes
the Sun” season-finale concert at the Edmonds Center for the
Arts on Sunday, June 12th, at 5:00 p.m. The annual event returns
to being a live, indoor event after two years of being
online-only due to COVID restrictions.
The three youth ensembles of Steel Magic Northwest will perform
a widely-varied repertoire of classical, pop, samba, salsa,
calypso and soca music in their annual season-pinnacle concert
to welcome the summer.
see
more
Web Posted - Saturday
May
14, 2022
loop Cayman News
The Amin Mohammed Steel band Festival takes place May 21
Cayman Islands, W.I. - The 17th
staging of the Amin Mohammed Steel band Festival takes place at
the John Gray High School Gymnasium on Saturday, May 21,
beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The festival, organised by the Department of Education Services
(DES) and sponsored by Cayman National Bank, will include
students from public and private schools across the Cayman
Islands.
see
more
Web Posted - Friday
May
13, 2022
Trinidad & Tobago Newsday
Point Fortin pays tribute to its heroes
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
Inspirational stories of ordinary and extraordinary people of
Point Fortin, who have distinguished themselves in the service
of others, were highlighted as the borough recognised and
honoured them in commemoration of its 42nd anniversary.
Comedian actor, radio personality and all-round artiste Damion
Melville, was one of two people who received awards for
excellence in the field of arts and culture. Joseph Lett, panist
extraordinaire, was the second recipient.
Lett, who is known as the “melodic pan man” at funerals, has
been instrumental in introducing a music ministry to many of the
churches in Point Fortin and in having pan introduced in schools
in the borough, the latter with the support of Atlantic LNG and
Bechtel.
see
more
Web Posted - Wednesday
May
11, 2022
Iowa City Press-Citizen
May 13: Iowa Steel Band - The Friday Night Concert Series by Summer of the Arts
Iowa, USA - The
Iowa Steel Band’s name was suggested by
Andy Narell, the legendary steelpanist and composer, after
his first visit to Iowa.
Daniel Moore, University of Iowa professor of music and director
of Iowa percussion, told the Press-Citizen in an email that
Narell said: “This band is really good and everyone should know
that it is from Iowa.”
So the Iowa PanAmerican Steel Band was rebranded in 2018 as the
Iowa Steel Band.
see
more
Web Posted -
Monday
May
10, 2022
News24
Bands to show their steel at CT Steelband Festival
The Wynberg Boys’ Steelband was at the 2019 Steelband Festival
Cape Town, South Africa - The
Cape Town Steelband Festival will take place this coming
Saturday (14 May) at the Baxter Concert Hall.
Starting at 15:00, the festival will showcase the talents of 10
bands: Wynberg Boys’ High School, Woodlands Primary School,
Vredenburg, Ebenaezer and Môrester Farms, Elkana Childcare (Riverlands),
Heideveld Secondary School, Muizenberg Junior School, Hermon,
Clanwilliam, Heideveld Primary School and Riebeek Kasteel.
Funds raised by the festival, a joint venture between.
see
more
Web Posted - Sunday
May 8, 2022
When Steel Talks
PanoGrama 2022 Prelims Results - Top 20 Move On To
Semi-final
David Yundi of the USA - PanoGrama 2022 Preliminaries
Global - After an online
stream on three consecutive nights, PanoGrama fans now know
which of their faves move on to the semi-finals streaming on May
29, with a few “ties” among the results for good measure. ...music lovers watched and listened intently as twenty-four steel
pan musicians delivered songs of their choosing.
....The USA (David Yundi), Canada (Gabriel Chartrand), France
(Mathieu Borgne) and Trinidad & Tobago (Shaquille Forbes) are
the top scorers in the preliminaries and lead the way for now
going into the semi-finals.
see more
Web Posted - Sunday
May
8, 2022
When Steel Talks
PanoGrama 2022 Preliminaries - Night 3: Live Stream
Global - The talents of the
last eight panists will be showcased online in the 2022
PanoGrama prelims on Sunday May 8, in the third and final night
of preliminary competition.
Starting time is 8:00 p.m. AST (Atlantic Standard Time).
see
more
Web Posted - Sunday
May
8, 2022
When Steel Talks
Happy Mother’s Day to all the Steelpan &
Steelband Music Moms
Global - Happy Mother’s Day
to all the Steelpan & Steelband Music Moms, all over the
world.
more
Web Posted - Sunday
May 8, 2022
Trinidad & Tobago Newsday
‘Joy cometh in the morning’, a commendable concert by 4
conductors
by Dr Richard L Tang Yuk
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. -
Last Sunday, MW Productions presented a concert at the Assumption Church, Maraval titled, Joy cometh in the morning. Founded by Kory Mendez and Anton Williams in 2021, this young company’s mission is, in part, to “cultivate the untapped potential of Trinbagonian youth.”
....The challenge for the producers here was a programme that
strode two soundscapes: the choir and pan idiom on the more
formal pieces, and the solo vocal jazz/gospel idiom. It is
impossible to have everything work successfully if you mix these
two soundscapes on the same concert. The amplification that is
appropriate for the jazz/blues idiom does not work for the choir
and pan combination. Why even amplify the steelpan? It is
already capable of a very loud dynamic. Also, amplification of
pan and choir does not help clarity.
....On orchestration: if you have a steelpan ensemble, avoid
doubling exactly the same thing on the electric keyboard/s.
see more
Web Posted - Saturday
May
7, 2022
When Steel Talks
PanoGrama 2022 Preliminaries - Night 2: Live Stream
Global - The talents of eight
panists will be showcased online in the 2022 PanoGrama prelims
on Saturday May 7, in the second of three nights of competition.
Starting time is 8:00 p.m. AST (Atlantic Standard Time).
see
more
Web Posted - Friday
May
6, 2022
When Steel Talks
Prelims underway in PanoGrama 2022 - Eight Steelpan players
feature on first night
Alexander Evans delivers in the PanoGrama 2022 preliminaries
Global - One hour was just
enough to unveil the start of the eagerly-awaited 2022 edition
of PanoGrama, which began promptly at 8:00 p.m. on Friday May
6th, with host Nevin Roach – founder and CEO of PanoGrama, and
co-host Aundrea Wharton.
....In the event’s three-year history, it is the first time that
Belize has been represented in PanoGrama, and Alexander Evans
was just the versatile steelpan musician up to the task with his
sultry rendition of Ckay’s “Love Nwantiti.”
see
more
Web Posted - Thursday
May 5, 2022
The Crescent-News
Stroede Center venue for steel band, free movie
Ohio, USA - Aaron Ziegler
[pictured] &
Friends, a steel band ensemble, will close the Young Audience
Series at 7 p.m. Friday at the
Stroede Center for the Arts, 319
Wayne Ave. Doors open at 6:30.
How did empty barrels go from being considered garbage to
becoming one of the most recognized instruments in the world?
Aaron Ziegler and his friends, the Heidelberg University Steel
Band directed by Scott Kretzer, help to answer that question.
see
more
Web Posted - Tuesday
May
3, 2022
When Steel Talks
PanoGrama 2022 Preliminaries - Night 1: Live Stream
Global - The talents of the
first eight panists will be showcased online in the 2022
PanoGrama prelims on Friday May 6, in the first of three nights
of competition. Starting time is 8:00 p.m. AST (Atlantic
Standard Time).
see
more
Web Posted - Tuesday
May
3, 2022
The Coastland Times
Artrageous to bring art, music, magic and more to Dowdy Park
The Mosaic Steel Orchestra
North Carolina, USA -
Families are invited to enjoy free, interactive visual and
performing arts at the 33rd Annual Artrageous Kids Art Festival
presented by PNC Bank, which will be held from 10 a.m. until 3
p.m. on Saturday, May 7 at Dowdy Park in Nags Head.
The Mosaic Steel Orchestra from Hampton, Virginia will headline
Artrageous, with dynamic steelpan entertainment to be performed
by a diverse group of children and adults.
see
more
Web Posted - February
2020
When Steel Talks
Complete Summary of Results of all Conventional Steel Orchestras - 2020
Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - At a glance
and on a single page, access the comprehensive summary of results for the Small,
Medium and Large conventional steel orchestras that participated in their respective
categories in the 2020 Panorama.
Follow the musical journey of respective bands through all three phases -
compare side-by-side preliminaries, semi-finals and finals through data on band
info, scores, tunes of choice and arrangers - on one page.
access full summary
