click for bioAcademic Qualifications
Shelton C. Besson is a multi-talented musician who, over the past 20 years, has established himself in the Trinidad and Tobago Steel Pan fraternity. His ingenuity as a steel pan player, conductor, composer and arranger has made him an asset to the bands with whom he has worked. Steelbands such as: El Dorado Secondary School, Arima United Schools, BP Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra, St. Margaret Boys, Five Rivers Modern Symphony, Arima Angel Harps and New York’s ADLIB Steel Orchestra are some of the bands that have played his arrangements at competition level.
His record in Junior Steelband competitions is quite impressive. Most notably:
He has achieved 1st Place on 5 occasions in different competitions with a hattrick of wins 2008 – 2010 with the BP Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra.
Shelton has taken Arima Angel Harps to the National Panorama Final on 4 occasions within his 6-year stint.
List of Achievements
Composer
Song for Lara – Sung by ‘Kia’ Panman
The Mystery of Pan –Sung by Eunice Peters 2005
A Sense of Pride - 2006
Arranger
El Dorado Secondary Comprehensive School
3rd Place - Jr. Panorama - 1999
Jr. Steelband Music Festival
1st Place - 2001 (orchestra)
2nd Place - 2001 (ensemble)
3rd Place - 2003 (orchestra)
3rd Place - 2003 (ensemble)
Five Rivers Modern Symphony Steel Orchestra
3rd Place – ‘Sydney Gallop’ (Panorama Tribute Competition) - 2003
Arima United Schools Steel Orchestra
2nd Place - Jr. Steelband Music Festival - 2005 (orchestra)
Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra
Jr. Panorama
1st Place – 2008
1st Place - 2009
1st Place - 2010
2nd Place - 2011
Arima Angel Harps Steel Orchestra
Arima Panorama
2nd Place - 2013
2nd Place - 2014
1st Place - 2015
Finalist - National Panorama (medium category)
2011, 2013, 2014 & 2015
