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profileMalik Smith is a 21-year-old musician from the nation of Antigua and Barbuda. At the age of 6, he began playing the steel pan at the Le Chateau D’or Music Academy, where he spent 5 years learning the theoretical and practical aspects of the instrument. In 2009, he joined the Sunnyside Tutorial School Steel Orchestra and captained the band to victory and 1st runner-up in 2010 and 2011, respectively. He has made contributions to the Zion Potters Moravian Church starting in 2012 and became one of the church’s main musicians shortly after. He studied piano for a short time through Caryl Edwards-Lewis and received distinctions in several Trinity Guildhall theoretical and practical exams. He attended the Antigua Grammar School and played for the steel orchestra from 2012 to 2018, in which he captained the band in his final two years at the institution.
In 2017, he played for the West Side Symphony and the Panache Steel Orchestra for Antigua’s National Panorama competition and joined the Panache Steel Orchestra as a regular member thereafter. He began his journey with Panache as one of the drummers and has also drummed for his alma mater, the Sunnyside Tutorial School during Antigua’s National Junior Panorama and for the Gemonites Steel Orchestra’s 25-a-Side competition, where both bands secured the 1st runner-up position. His dedication enabled him to become the Panache Steel Orchestra’s main drummer/percussionist.
In 2018, he took a major role and drummed for the National Panorama Competition, where the band came out as co-champions alongside the Hells Gate Steel Orchestra, assisting Zahra Lake in creating history in Antigua and Barbuda as the first Champion Female Arranger.
Malik Smith took another major role in 2019 and arranged for Panache Steel Orchestra, for Gemonites Steel Orchestra’s 25-a-Side competition, where he was successful in making it Panache Steel Orchestra’s first time securing the winning trophy after the band’s history of consecutively placing 1st runner-up.
Malik is known as a well-rounded multitalented individual, having the ability to play any instrument within the steel pan family and also dabbles with playing the keyboard, bass guitar and other instruments.
He is currently the Treasurer of Panache Steel Orchestra, having served four years on the Executive, and is respected as a wholesome musician and as one of the senior members of the band.
Bio provided to When Steel Talks by: M. SMITH - 2022
