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2010 Montreal International Steelpan Festival in Full Review

In Pictures    

The Show Must Go On! - Power of the Steelpan

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Montreal, Quebec, Canada - The words “the show must go on” have never rung with more truth and urgency than with this year’s Montreal International Steelpan Festival. Faced with a series of challenges and a short runway that threatened to curtail this year’s show, event organizer Salah Wilson pulled out all stops to ensure continuity and that there would be a quality production at this year’s 10th edition.

View from American Airlines flight upon landing at Trudeau Airport
View from American Airlines flight upon landing at Trudeau Airport

So, with the New York vista to our back and rising sun on our bow, north to Montreal we headed.  When Steel Talks caught an early 6:40 a.m.  American Airline flight  out of La Guardia in New York City direct to Montreal - and in less than the time it takes to go from lower to upper Manhattan, we were on the Québec island of pan.  Yes indeed, the beautiful island of Montreal, Canada would again be transformed into a mecca for steelpan music aficionados.

“What brings you to Canada today?”  asked the customs officer at Montreal’s Trudeau International Airport.  When Steel Talks’ response was simply - “the steelpan music festival.”  The officer nodded in acknowledgement and said smilingly “enjoy your stay.”  And so began the When Steel Talks ‘festival log’ for the Montreal International Steelpan Festival 2010.

Now in its 10th year, The Montreal International Steelpan Music Festival is like no other in the world.  Unlike the other festivals around the world, the Montreal International Steelpan Festival is truly international in every aspect.   This year the Festival featured groups from Maine - USA, Trinidad and Tobago, Ontario and Montreal. 

Results

The results in the two music categories were:

The Junior Panorama involved two bands from the Montreal public schools, and Starlift (Junior)

Tune of Choice:
1st - STARLIFT (Junior); 2nd – ST. MONICA; 3rd – CORONATION SCHOOL

Panorama Style:
1st - “STARLIFT (Junior)”; 2nd – CORONATION SCHOOL; 3rd – ST. MONICA

The following are the results of the 2010 Montreal International Steelpan Festival:

Tune of Choice:
1st – SALAH’S STEELPAN ACADEMY playing Celine Dion’s I’m Alive
2nd – STARLIFT (Junior) playing the Beatles’ Yesterday
3rd – PAN COALITION playing Flash
4th - CCAH STEELBAND playing Waving Flags

Panorama style:
1st – SALAH’S STEELPAN ACADEMY playing Edwin Pouchet’s Battle Zone
2nd – STARLIFT (Junior) playing Edwin Pouchet’s Battle Zone
3rd – PAN COALITION playing
One For Chalkie
4th - CCAH STEELBAND playing
Ten Commandments Of Pan

When you think of the steelpan instrument - steelbands and or steelband music, Montreal is not the first place that comes to mind, but that is obviously quickly changing.  Montreal is already known as the home of the greatest jazz festival on the planet, compliments of the International Jazz Festival of Montreal which ironically was beginning the same day of this steelpan festival.

There are honestly few places that can provide the rich culture, scenic and educational experiences in a captivating, relaxed and historic environment, as Montreal, Canada.  Moreover, the event continued to make serious inroads into the must-attend and ‘must perform at’ steelpan music listings for both artists and fans.

Crowd takes in the 2010 Montreal International Steelpan Festival
Crowd takes in the 2010 Montreal International Steelpan Festival

Clearly the Festival is already embedded in the psyche of the people of Montreal.  This was evidenced by the instant recognition that flickered across the faces of the customs officials at the airport, as When Steel Talks responded, when asked the purpose of the visit, that it was the Montreal International Steelpan Festival.  It is the same expressions and rejoinders that are reflective of  customs officials in Trinidad when visitors land for the annual Carnival season.

Even more importantly, the city officials of Montreal have bought into the steelpan festival’s artistic, economic and cultural benefits to the metropolis.  Like the annual Moods of Pan festival in Antigua, this Canadian festival has become a signature event of the town.

Salah Wilson and some of his family members
Salah Wilson and some members of his family

The success of the show is directly tied to its director Salah Wilson and his production team.  Salah is a successful music artist, arranger and educator with globally recognized steelpan literacy published works and director of the renowned “Salah Steelpan Academy.”  Mr. Wilson with the help of his team literally ‘mounted the show on his back’ for 2010 and made it happen.

CCAH (Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton) Steelband at the 2010 Montreal International Steelpan Festival
CCAH (Canadian Caribbean Association
 of Halton) Steelband

This year’s show was not without its challenges, obstacles, disappointments and distractions according to Mr. Wilson both professionally and personally.  Furthermore organizers were not able to directly address the many steelpan artists who expressed an interest in performing in this year’s 2010 event.  Nevertheless, organizers were committed to putting on a show and delivering a quality product.  With Montreal already activated and flooded with musicians and fans for the upcoming Jazz Festival this was a perfect weekend for the steelpan festival to inculcate itself as part the entertainment musical landscape.

This year’s show while not as encompassing as the organizers had envisioned still has to be deemed a success.  The show went on and the citizens of Montréal came out and the players enjoyed themselves. The Montreal International Fest has to be one of the top places to go to hear steelpan and/or perform.  What a great way to begin discovering and exploring the city of Montreal!

The Power of Pan...

Golden Stars, led by Martin Albino
Golden Stars, led by Martin Albino

When Steel Talks witnessed many special moments and performances during the festival this year.  There was the performance of the Golden Stars, a group of seniors led by Martin Albino.  There was Special Connection, which featured an autistic young man by the name of Warren (pictured below in blue shirt and black cap).  And of course there were the great performances from the competing steel orchestras.  Special Connection, and Warren (blue shirt, black cap)But for WST the two scenes that validated this year as a resounding success had very little to do with the  competition but everything to do with the spirit of the festival.  One was observing two panists - who could not be any more than 10 years old - from different groups, and from different parts of the world - hugging each other and exchanging cameras as they took pictures of each other. The other is the conga line with players from all groups dancing and cheering each other on.

The Show

Salah Steelpan Academy at the 2010 Montreal International Steelpan Festival
Salah Steelpan Academy at the 2010 Montreal International Steelpan Festival

Salah’s Steelpan Academy won their fourth straight Montreal panorama championship with a sizzling presentation and rendition of “Battle Zone.”  The Pan Coalition shows again that Maine knows pan.  The folks from Blue Hill, led by Carl Chase heated up the place with their version of “Flash” and “One For Chalkie,” the latter a Carl Chase-creation. 

Starlift Junior Steel Orchestra performs at the 2010 Montreal International Steelpan Festival
Starlift Junior Steel Orchestra performs at the 2010 Montreal International Steelpan Festival

There was CCAH (Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton) Steelband from Ontario which performed ‘Ten Commandments Of Pan’ and ‘Waving Flags.’  And of course there was Starlift Junior Steel Orchestra who traveled all  the way from Trinidad and Tobago to participate in the festival.  They were simply fabulous.  They performed ‘Battle Zone and ‘Yesterday.’  Adjudicators this year were Penny Lewis, Martin Albino and Ashton Hughes.

If you are a college band, community organization and/or any steelband performing artist for that matter, the Montreal Festival is what you want to be a part of.  If you are a steelpan music lover looking for a great music experience in a great town - the Montreal Festival is the place you want to be.

As everything falls into place, the festival unfolds and the music begins to play, it is a reminder and crystallizes for both festival participants as well as organizers, what it is truly all about.   Not  just the musical skill sets showcased, but the joy and awesome power of Pan to bring people and community together, and make everything all right in the end, as the performances and celebration triumphantly unfold.

Then - the sacrifices, obstacles, disappointments and all that were surmounted to make the event a reality, all make sense.  And that is why we will see you next year, once again, same time - same place for the 11th Montreal International Steelpan Festival.

In Pictures

Interested in performing at the 2011 Montreal International Steelpan Music Festival?

Contact Salah Wilson: salah@steelpanplus.com; 1 (514) 739-5608

Ning profile - whensteeltalks.ning.com/profile/SalahWilson

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