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Operations: As an adult, I asked myself when I was happiest. The answer always connected to this instrument. I met my best friends and my husband playing this instrument. What set me apart from many individuals I knew and made me unique? This instrument. Where did my leadership abilities form and develop? Playing in a Steelband. What allowed me to travel to unique settings and locations and meet unique ppl? The instrument gave me the ability to express myself. As the youngest person in a frontline of all males outside of myself, respect was earned through my playing ability. Show me you are the best; don’t tell me. That requires me to put in extra work to improve my skills. The steelband environment was my early training ground for hard work and setting myself apart. We performed for the community for free on Saturdays. These free concerts release many people in the hustle of the NYC streets, which is always welcomed. Music unifies the young and old, the rich and poor. It allows people to stand in one place and travel worldwide through song connections. At those free concerts, I met district representatives, council members, store owners, organization leaders, church leaders, etc. I was exposed to all walks of life and gained comfort amongst them. With all that I’ve been afforded through this steelpan journey, I find it proper and necessary to pass the learning opportunities on to others.
Media: In everything around me, I can see the steelpan having a connection in some way or form. I don’t honestly think that there was a time that pan was not in the peripheral of my life. I started playing in December of ’86, and by ’91, I had visited Europe twice, won Multiple junior panoramas, won a youth steelband festival, and opened for the CARIFTA games with the St. Augustine Steel Orchestra, under the direction of Mr. Andre Moses. With all of those accomplishments, the greatest joy for me has constantly been imparting the knowledge of the steelpan to new learners. I am most proud of the elective program I taught at the Aranguez Jr secondary school, a program conceived by my mentor, Ms.Pat Adams; this led to teaching summer camp pan classes at the Pan Piper Music school under the direction of Ms.Louise McIntosh, a program so successful it was extended twice. Upon emigrating to the United States, I got involved in a broader aspect of the Steelpan, archiving through the medium of recording technology with basement recordings. For more than 11 years, we recorded audio and video of the steelband movement in and around New York. While at the Basement, I taught steelpan classes in a few Brooklyn schools. When I was invited to be part of the NuGen Academy Program, I jumped at the chance to continue playing a role in contributing to the Steelpan Movement.
Program Director: In the spring of 1992, I made a decision that has had a tremendous impact on the trajectory of my life. That was to walk into the New Creation Youth Steel Orchestra band room and learn to play the Steelpan. Twenty-four years later, it’s time to give back. Steelpan and music have been an enormous source of pride for my family and community. It connects us to people in extraordinary ways, fosters cooperation and collaboration, and forms bonds that can last a lifetime. My purpose in Nugen Steelpan Academy is to help students learn to play this fantastic instrument and gain a better appreciation for the people of Trinidad & Tobago and Caribbean Culture. Doing so builds confidence and community by connecting people from different walks of life together. Because with music, we realize how much more we have in common with each other than not. Playing the Steelpan is fantastic!
