Debra Romain is a dedicated pan player in the UK. A classically trained musician, Debra has been teaching pan in schools and within different bands she has spent time with, for over fifteen years.
As a child, her first playing days started with Stardust Steel Orchestra, then under the direction of its founder, Randolph Baptiste. Since those early days she has since played with Stardust, Ebony, Mangrove and Trinidad’s Phase II Pan Groove... to name but a few.
In 1994 Debra became the first female band manager/arranger in the National Panorama competition in London, with her own band called New Creation Steel Band. She returned to her roots in 2008 when she rejoined Stardust Steel Orchestra; this time, however, she was on board as the arranger of their Panorama 2008 entry, once more making it as the only female arranger of the National Panorama competition.
Debra “Pan Diva” Romain
Debra presently retains her responsibilities in the capacity of arranger for Stardust, but also finds time to pursue additional challenges. She is currently teaching both pan and vocal lessons at a top specialist music status school in West London, where she is acting as Musical Director of Twyford Steel Orchestra, currently part of the Ealing Music service in England.
During her many years with Mangrove Steelband, she consistently arranged for their junior band, and indeed won five consecutive Junior Panorama competitions arranging the following selections: My Time – Denyse Plummer (2000); Mash it Up – Destra Garcia (2002); Music In We Blood – Len “Boogsie” Sharpe (2003); Look de Band Coming – Shurwayne Winchester (2004) and in 2005, Dead or Alive, also by Shurwayne Winchester.
photo provided by
D. Romain
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