When Steel Talks (WST) interviews distinguished champion arranger Vanessa Headley-Brewster. She is President, and Director of the renowned Golden Hands Steel Orchestra headquartered in south Trinidad.
As the 2025 Panorama arranger for New York’s Metro Steel Orchestra, the interview session includes interactions with the steel orchestra’s band leader, Anthony “Big Tony” Joseph and Metro’s driller for the Panorama season, and also the organization’s junior Panorama arranger, Joshua Bedeau.
Vanessa steps into the New York Panorama scene as the 2025 Panorama arranger for Metro Steel Orchestra, taking over from Terrance “BJ” Marcelle who worked with Metro for two years, 2023 and 2024. Anthony “Big Tony” Joseph opens up the interview session, saying “Metro needs to go in a different direction” and he “needed someone who could take the band into another level.”
Anthony “Big Tony” Joseph and Vanessa Headley-Brewster in Metro
Steel Orchestra’s panyard
Through this collaboration with Vanessa, Joseph expects a new direction for women in pan, especially in such areas as culture and respect. He says: “the pan community does not reward women - educated women, bright women - and [they are] the driving force behind ninety percent of the bands - to put them where they belong - equal with the men.”
Vanessa herself is indeed aware of her presence and role as a woman in pan, in the steelband art form: “....I am very mindful that what I do, and how I do it, is going to impact others like me.”
She was honored when “Big Tony” as a leader of a major steelband, asked her to arrange for Metro Steel Orchestra, “to be at the helm with him.” She was happy to know Tony acknowledges her overall achievements to date.. “So it was good to be seen...it was an instantaneous “Yes”....because there is an opportunity; I’m going to take that opportunity....and since I got here, I feel really at home. It’s going to be a good fit - I think it feels like a good fit.”
Tony is also confident of this, adding that one major reason for Vanessa to be working with the band is “Metro is 50-60 percent young ladies....so they need to see somebody like themselves.”
This new collaboration with Metro Steel Orchestra extends to the arranger for its junior band, Joshua Bedeau. He began his musical journey at age five as a member of Golden Hands Steel Orchestra, with Vanessa being his very first teacher. Joshua credits the music organization for his present life’s path, not just as a musician but as a person overall: “....as a whole, holistically I have grown...it definitely has set the standard, as well as just gave me the tools that I needed, to even come to the States.” Joshua is now based in the United States, and is a Masters graduate from NIU (Northern Illinois University).
Joshua Bedeau with Vanessa Headley-Brewster in Metro
Steel Orchestra’s panyard
He is grateful for that educational experience, and even more so to arrange for Metro’s Junior Steel Orchestra. Joshua is also the driller for Metro Steel Orchestra’s 2025 Panorama season. Vanessa has much praise for the musician, and is extremely pleased to have him as drill master for the band she is arranging for in the New York Panorama. “He has an uncanny ability to retain music and he has perfect pitch....so he is a gifted musician...has won numerous [awards], is a music festival solo champion. He is exceptional.” Joshua himself is “just really excited for the season ahead of us.”
Vanessa Headley-Brewster is the daughter of the late Franka Hills-Headley who passed one year ago on August 1, 2024. She is an only child, but says “My family has been extended through pan...Golden Hands became like my extended - the extension of my family...Growing up in that space where my home - my literal home was the panyard....As an only child, I never felt that....It taught me how to relate to people in the ‘non-only-child’ manner.”
Regarding her Mom, Vanessa says she is now really trying to honor her legacy: “....now that she is gone....She left so much in place....the transition has been really seamless. The emotions are there; but the actual day-to-day of taking Golden Hands from one level to the next - the infrastructure was there, the foundation was laid....”
Check out the entire interview to hear more from Vanessa Headley-Brewster in her own words.
Watch Interview
Vanessa Headley-Brewster
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