Global - Although he is only 21 years old, Andre White has accomplished much in a very short space of time. In fact he has been successful in a forum where many have spent a lifetime trying to accomplish his feats. He already won the prestigious New York steelband music panorama competition twice as arranger for one of New York’s flagship steel orchestra franchises - ADLIB Steel Orchestra. He is a senior at Berklee College of Music. And in addition, he recently captured the UK’s top panorama honors as winning arranger for Mangrove Steel Band where the judges were none other than highly respected steelpan music personages - Anise ‘Halfers’ Hadeed, Nestor Sullivan, Ray Holman, Robert Bailey and Rudy ‘Two Lef’ Smith. He then went on to repeat his winning ways as in New York as ADLIB’s resident arranger. White captured both titles within a week of each other.
Andre told WST he looks forward to being back in school at Berklee, where he can continue to grow musically and fine-tune the music of ‘Andre White.’ Other steelpan standouts who are currently matriculating students at Berklee include Iman Pascall, KJ Marcelle, Earl Brooks, Jr. and Kareem Thompson.
InterviewAndre says he is taking nothing for granted and thanks all the people (including his ADLIB band mates) who have been instrumental in giving him an opportunity to showcase his talents.
Philosophically, he is very clear on one of the more beneficial mindsets on the path to success. “I’m not afraid to say I am still growing. I think I will be growing forever....”
Since tying for third place in 2007 Andre White and ADLIB Steel Orchestra have not been out of the top three positions (2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011) in the New York panorama contest.
* More here on Andre White
* click for more on the 2011 New York Panorama season
Andre White after his WST interview
Editor's note: Currently, as of June 2020, André White has been the arranger for Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra in New York, and Mangrove Steelband in UK
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