-
WST
- How
were
you first
introduced
to the steelpan
instrument?
Brigitte Fischer and Len “Boogsie” Sharpe |
Fischer
- I heard the steelpan on
a few occasions in Switzerland and then I read an advertisement in the local newspapers that they wanted to form a steelband and were looking for players. That was 1995.
-
WST
- What pan do you play?
Fischer
- My first love is and will be the double second which I still play in a trio formation. Besides this I play a four pan (cello) in a bigger band and a tenor bass (triple) in a small formation with a
German flute that plays only classical music.
-
WST
- Are you the first woman president of the Steelband Association?
Fischer
- Yes. PANCH Swiss Steelband Association was founded in 2004 and I was elected president in 2009.
-
WST
- How many members do you have?
Fischer
- About 40
steelbands and 70 private persons are members of PANCH. We have about 150 Steelbands in Switzerland; however, a lot of these bands are not (yet) interested in any kind of association. We are growing slowly but surely.
-
WST
- What are your responsibilities?
Fischer
-
The
Board of
the
association
works as
a team
where
everyone
has his
responsibilities.
Besides
the
presidential
and
representative
tasks, I
am
responsible
for
education/workshops
and web
mastering.
-
WST
- What are your goals as it relates to the association?
Fischer
- The objective of our association is the enhancement of the Swiss pan community by means of activities such as launching big band projects like PANCH 2000, compiling a pan curriculum with various workshops, offering an e-mail information service to our members (concerts, advertising, general pan information) and providing a quarterly printed newsletter. My personal goal is to find a way how we can enhance and further cooperation among the many individuals who champion the steelband movement in Switzerland. United we stand strong!
-
WST
-What is your greatest challenge as President?
Fischer
- Keeping the steelpan flame alive. Rejuvenating the scene, and cultivating and fostering passion for the steelpan.
-
WST
-
What are you most proud
of about the steelpan movement in Switzerland?
Fischer
- I think it’s great how many steelbands we have in Switzerland. Considering it is such a small country, far far away from Trinidad :-) Many people love the instrument, love the band they play with and the pan community they are part of.
-
WST
- What are you most disappointed with the steelpan movement in Switzerland?
Fischer
- If you were a fairy and I had a wish, I would love to see a joint effort amongst all players, teachers and other people involved to bring the steelpan to a next level - increase its popularity in Switzerland, grow the number of players and to see the instrument being more recognized by the public as a
“veritable” instrument that can be played in many different settings (not only calypso but jazz as well as even classical music).
-
WST
- You traveled to Trinidad this year and played with Phase II - how was that experience?
|
Brigitte Fischer at Phase II Pan Groove
|
Fischer
- Well, it was just
indescribable! I think I could write a whole book. It was such an honour to play with one of the best bands in the world! I am still delirious with joy about the opportunity I got. Thank you Phase II! And I had so many extraordinary experiences - meeting and getting to know all the nice musicians in the band, playing Boogsie’s great arrangement and seeing how it
developed from verse and chorus to a masterpiece - incredible. And I got the opportunity to see a lot of this beautiful country, too.
-
WST
- What is next for you as a musician?
Fischer
- Now of course a big wish is to return to Trinidad and do it all again. It was worth every second of hard practicing work! Here in Switzerland I have to work hard to catch up with the repertoire with my four pan (as I am new to that band). And on the double second I want to improve my improvisation skills and harmony know-how.
A Celebration
of Women And
The Steelpan
Artform
Their Story, Their Voice, Their Life,
Their Dreams -
click for
more stories
Leave a comment
in the
WST forum
