Sonatas Steel Orchestra

NOTE:  Sonatas Steel Orchestra is inactive as of 2019.

Manager – Mack Scott

The Pan Sonatas represents steelband royalty. This New York heavyweight is the oldest active steelband music organization in the country.  Respected throughout the world for its musical prowess, Sonatas has performed throughout the years with distinction. Sonatas has won more steelband music panorama competitions in North America than any other steelband with a total of ten New York championships.

The organization was founded on July 31^st, 1971, and is very proud of its achievements, progress and development.  Sonatas is practically pleased with the winning team they have put together throughout the years: excellent panists, strong management, superb arrangers and renowned tuner, Bertram “Birch” Kelman who is the caretaker and producer of their world-class music instruments.

Pan Sonatas, Inc. has won the New York Steel Band Panorama competitions in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1989 (with Ken “Professor” Philmore), 2004, 2007, 2009 and 2010 (with Yohan Popwell) and has been in the top three almost every other Panorama since 1972, their first year of participation.  Panorama is a competition for steel bands, also known as “pan” held during the Labor Day – West Indian American Day Carnival Association celebrations, with each steel band or “pan side” playing one of the current year’s calypso or soca hits.

Since most of the founding members were from Gasparillo, South Trinidad, West Indies and were also former members of the Moonlight Sonatas Steel Orchestra of the same district, it was no surprise that the name of choice of this band was the New York Sonatas Steel Orchestra, now Pan Sonatas, Inc.

Pan Sonatas, Inc. has performed at many events, some of which include:  Madison Square Garden Annual Mother’s Day Calypso Extravaganza from 1983 through 1986; Carnegie Hall which featured the Mighty Sparrow in 1984; Atlanta’s first annual West Indian Carnival in 1989, annual West Indian Carnivals in Connecticut, Baltimore and Brooklyn, West Point in honor of the cadets, Rhode Island in honor of Prince Charles and numerous boat rides, dances, balls, parties, indoor and outdoor events.

“Our main objective is to educate and rehabilitate all young people through the music of the steelband.  The drug-free environment we provide our members has been one of the hallmarks of our success.

“Pan Sonatas, Inc. is embarking on a program of self-improvement, to promote the steel band locally and internationally.  We will need all the support we can get.  As we strive for excellence, we will demand more of ourselves, a stronger commitment of our panists and the support of you, the public, in order to rise to greater heights.”

 Pan Sonatas, Inc.

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