Meet Olivier Wiren of France - Steelpan Performing Artist

Olivier Wiren first developed sports skills as a tennis player and a fencing player before really getting into music.

As he became a teacher as fencing master, he also started steelpan with Calypsociation Steelband in Paris in 1996.

Wiren first traveled to Trinidad in 1997 for the Carnival and first experienced Trini vibes while staying in Belmont with Miss Daisy McClean. He returned several times to Trinidad: Panorama 1999, World Steelpan Music Festival 2000, Panorama 2001, ICP (International Conference and Panorama) 2015, Panorama 2019 and 2020.

He played with Panash Pan Groove led by Laurent Lalsingué, with Andy Narell and Calypsociation, in several bands for Panorama in Trinidad (Tokyo, Merry Tones, Phase II, Highlanders, Xpress21) and in London - Ebony, Glissando and Metronomes.

Since 2011, he has lived in South France where he leads and arranges for, his own band Chroma Steel.

Chroma Steel’s performance at the French Panorama 2022

During the [COVID-19] pandemic, Wiren released a CD Steelpan duet of the music of JS Bach.

And PanoGrama 2022 is another challenge to improve Wiren’s playing and arranging skills!