‘Panoramic’

With 2015 making it 15 years of devotion to the culture of Trinidad and Tobago, Nesta Boxill also known as “Sekon Sta,” has become one of the most promising and multidimensional talents in the Soca Fraternity, boasting great contributions as a writer, performer and recording artist. Son to the deceased veteran artiste, Dennis Franklyn Williams aka “The Merchant,” Sekon Sta not only has the dedication to the arts but a greater appreciation for the culture, having had a front seat to its inner workings from a very young age.

2014 has arguably been his break-through year in terms of widespread recognition. Following on from his Crop Over 2014 hit on the June Bomb Riddim entitled "Put in that Work," his momentum continued into the T&T pre-Carnival 2015 season with him performing on the mega hit Kan Kan Riddim, No Stress Riddim, Bitter Riddim, Puppet String Riddim and producing his single, "Maximum. “Sekon Sta” remains an integral member of AdvoKit Productions, the creators of the Kan Kan Riddim and it is only fitting that his track on the riddim, entitled "The Best" saw him become a significant player in the soca offerings for 2015.

One of Sekon Sta's greatest characteristics is his ability to tailor his performance to the crowd. This is a major reason that he was awarded the Carib Breakout Artiste of the Year 2015. The audience can easily resonate with him and quickly become his fans. It is in turn, these fans that energize him, to continue learning and growing to become an even greater positive influence with each song.

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Hailed as the “Paganini of the Steelpan”, Liam Teague currently serves as the Head of Steelpan Studies and Associate Professor of Music at Northern Illinois University.

Along with Clifford Alexis, he co-directs the NIU Steelband.

He has received many awards in his homeland of Trinidad and Tobago, including the Humming Bird Award (Silver) for “loyal and devoted service”, the Ansa McAl Caribbean Awards for Excellence, and won of a number of notable competitions such as the Trinidad and Tobago National Steelband Festival Solo Championship and the Saint Louis Symphony Volunteers Association Young Artiste Competition.

His commitment to demonstrating the great musical possibilities of the steelpan has taken Teague to Europe, Asia, and Australia, as well as North and Central America and the Caribbean.

He has performed with many diverse ensembles, including: National Symphony Orchestra, Taiwan National Symphony, Czech National Symphony, Saint Louis Symphony, Panama National Symphony, Chicago Sinfonietta, Vermeer String Quartet, Avalon String Quartet, Dartmouth Wind Ensemble, University of Wisconsin-Madison Marching Band, Nexus, TCL Group Skiffle Bunch Steel Orchestra, BPtt Renegades Steelband, Starlift Steel Orchestra, and the PCS Nitrogen Silver Stars Steel Orchestra.

Teague has collaborated with such prominent musicians as Paquito D’Rivera, Dave Samuels, Zakir Hussain, Evelyn Glennie and Robert Chappell.

As a performer and clinician, Teague has given presentations at several Percussive Arts Society International Conventions (PASIC) and at many educational institutions throughout the world.

He is steelband director at Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Door County, Wisconsin, and he has also taught and performed at the California State University Summer Arts Camp and at the Interlochen Academy for the Performing Arts.

A strong advocate for original steelpan compositions, Teague has collaborated with, and commissioned a number of significant composers to write for the instrument, including Michael Colgrass, Jan Bach, Libby Larsen, Andy Akiho, Deborah Fisher Teason, Joey Sellers, Ben Wahlund, Erik Ross, Kevin Bobo and David Gordon.

Many of his compositions and arrangements are published with MaumauMusic, PanPress and RamajayMusic.

Teague has served as musical arranger of the TCL Group Skiffle Bunch Steel Orchestra, Starlift Steel Orchestra, for Panorama, the most prestigious steelband competition in the world.  He is now the arranger for PCS Nitrogen Silver Stars Steel Orchestra.

To date, Teague has recorded eight compact discs, including Hands Like Lightning (1993), For Lack of Better Words (2002), Panoramic: Rhythm Through an Unobstructed View (2005) and Open Window (2010).

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Adrian Jaikaran is a renowned international steelpan soloist who has performed extensively in Europe and the Caribbean. Jaikaran is dedicated to steelpan education and frequently conducts master classes, particularly in the United Kingdom. In addition, his career encompasses a number of creative and entrepreneurial ventures, including the management of his CrossFade Production Studio.









 

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