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profileJaron Woodsley was first introduced to music at a young age as part of the African drumming group with the Plaisance Park Performing Arts Company, and took part in festivals and competitions in Trinidad and Grenada. He then joined Golden Hands in 2005 as part of the engine room in preparation for the Trinidad & Tobago National Junior Panorama competition. He graduated from tambourine, to iron, and then ultimately to pan in preparation for the 2012 small band Panorama. Since then, he has performed at numerous music festivals and competitions with the band.
As an individual in the 2016 Trinidad & Tobago Music Festival, he won the sight-reading category for the 16-19 age group, as well as the best steelpan composition. After completing the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination and graduating from St. Benedict’s College in 2016, he did the Certificate in Steelpan and Music Literacy at the University of Trinidad & Tobago.
Now, at age 24, Jaron is a Northern Illinois University alumnus where he graduated in December 2021 with a Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in Steelpan Performance and a Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in Instrumental Music Education. As a member of the NIU Steelband, he has performed in different parts of Illinois, including at the Chicago Symphony Center with the Chicago Sinfonietta, and was a part of a small contingent that took part in a percussion festival in Costa Rica. Jaron has also performed independently around Illinois, and frequents Florida to take part in the Miami Carnival Panorama and as a solo entertainer.
In December 2020, Jaron released his first album – a holiday album – as an independent artist entitled “Steel in Heavenly Peace,” combining musical styles from the Caribbean with other pop and contemporary styles. Currently, Jaron works with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras where he holds the title of Steel Orchestras Assistant.
Bio provided to When Steel Talks by: J. WOODSLEY
