New York - The historic Brooklyn
Borough Hall at 209 Joralemon Street, in Brooklyn, New York was the setting for the WIADCA
(West Indian American Day Carnival Association) 39th Annual Prize
Awards. Proud winners of the 2006 Carnival and Steelband Music
Panorama events were on hand at a different venue this year for the
ceremony. The Brooklyn Museum had been the choice in 2004
and 2005, while in 2003 attendees were hosted at Prospect
Park's Picnic House in Brooklyn.
First, second and third place winners in the 2006 steelband panorama and
multiple mas categories, such as Individuals, Ole
Mas Characters, King and Queen Adult and Junior winners, and Band of
the Year were
presented with trophies, and later on, checks, for their endeavors
in the September 2006 New York carnival and panorama season.
Travis Roberts, captain of 2006 New York Panorama champions, CASYM
Steel Orchestra, together with vice captain Janek Franklin, was called
upon shortly after 6:00 PM to provide some impromptu entertainment
for award attendees already seated in readiness for the scheduled
5:30 PM start. After solos from the CASYM duo, and around 6:20
PM, Roberts rendered the US anthem signaling the beginning of the
award ceremony. Jean Alexander, WIADCA's Public Relations and
Marketing liaison would be hostess for the evening's activities.
President of WIADCA, Yolanda Lezama-Clark delivered the opening
address, with words of support and recognition for the Caribbean
community and its annual Brooklyn carnival celebrations, forthcoming
from various officials after the WIADCA president. They
included but were not limited to New York City (NYC) Comptroller
William C. Thompson, Jr., Brooklyn Borough President Marty
Markowitz, NYC Council Member David Yassky and
Council Member Kendall Stewart.
Calvin Alexander, previously a long-serving member of WIADCA, was
presented with a plaque commemorating thirty years of 'Dedication and
Unselfish Support' of the organization and its goals. A
trip to any American Airlines world destination for Alexander and
his spouse, along with an envelope of cash appreciation accompanied
the plaque.
Among the evening's notable awardees in the mas category were Sesame
Flyers International, parent organization of Sesame Flyers
Steel Orchestra. They achieved Band of the Year honors.
Quite a selection of Sesame Flyers personnel was on hand for
the presentation, prompting humorous comments that 'the whole band
had turned up' for the presentation.
After the presentation of the trophies in the mas categories, the
first, second and third prize winners of the New York Steelband
categories received their trophies. Accepting from WIADCA board
member Randolph Babb, on behalf of third place winners Pantonic
Steel Orchestra (last year's champs), was the music organization's
Public Relations Officer, Nicole Gibbons. Manager of Sonatas
Steel Orchestra (2004 Panorama champs) Macaulay Scott was on hand to accept
the trophy for second place, presented by Mr. Babb and WIADCA's
president and vice-president, Yolanda Lezama-Clark and Kenrick
Faustin. The latter two stayed on to do the honors as CASYM's
Travis Roberts and Janek Franklin proudly accepted
their trophy.
This year's change in venue accommodated attendees in the chambers
of Brooklyn's Borough Hall for the award ceremony. However it was not large enough for
performances by the stageside representation of the championship steel orchestra, CASYM.
Whether or not that had ever been a consideration of the event
organizers is unknown. What can
be said is that the ceremonies held in 2004 and 2005 at the Brooklyn
Museum featured performances from the stagesides of the panorama
champions of those years, and from other artistes, for the
pleasure of all those in attendance.
Additionally - it was interesting to note that in 2003,
all the steel orchestras participating in the
panorama went home with trophies of their own, and had their
individual photo-ops.
The same held true
for 2005.
For the 2006 awards however, band names and positions were simply
announced with no fanfare or other visual recognition afforded them.
Checks were to be collected outside. Nevertheless,
When Steel Talks
was pleased to be able to capture some memorable moments of the
representatives who turned up, under the auspices of Shirley Chisholm's
(the first African American woman - of Caribbean parentage - who was
candidate for the Democratic Presidential Nomination) portrait positioned just outside the chambers where the
ceremony was held, and during the reception which followed
immediately after.
Basement
Press Corp
©2006 When Steel Talks - All Rights Reserved
Award Ceremony in Pictures
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