Starlift
Junior Steel
Orchestra
perform
in Montreal
Montréal,
Quebec, Canada
- With the results
of two competitions
now in hand,
Starlift Junior
Steel Orchestra
closed out the
10th
Annual Montreal
International
Steelpan Festival
(F.I.S.M. -
Festival International
de Steelpan
de Montréal)
with a varied
repertoire that
showcased even
more, their
musical skill
set and performance
abilities.
The crowd was
very pleased
with their presentation
which included
classic hits
like
Thriller
(Michael Jackson),
La La
(Lord Nelson)
and
Mo Wuk
(Patrice Roberts),
among many others.
As steelpan
music rang out
through Place Émilie-Gamelin
in downtown
Montreal, Starlift
Juniors were
high on their
accomplishments,
and proud of
their representation
of their homeland
of Trinidad
and Tobago.
Fresh from competing
earlier in the
afternoon both
in the ‘Adult
Panorama’ and
placing second,
while copping
top honors in
the ‘Junior
Panorama’ -
the results
were the same
in both ‘tune
categories.’
The band played
the identical
songs in both
groupings:
for their “Tune
of Choice” played
in calypso tempo,
Starlift Juniors
chose the Beatles’
classic
Yesterday,
while they went
to “war” with
Edwin Pouchet’s
Battle Zone
for their current
Calypso arranged
“Panorama style.”
Both tunes were
arranged by
Barry Mannette.
The Montreal
crowd on hand
was obviously
totally enamored
with the group.
They were lustily
cheered on because
of the quality
of their performance.
Starlift
Junior Steel
Orchestra
perform
in Montreal
Beyond the music
and great performances
delivered by
Starlift Junior
steel orchestra,
is the remarkable
story behind
the journey,
including the
financial challenges
and hurdles
overcome - to
make it all
the way to Montreal,
Canada.
Every single
business organization
and government
official and
Ministry approached
in Trinidad
had turned them
down in terms
of assistance.
Musical Director
and arranger
for the orchestra
Barry Mannette
said that they
essentially
“received no
help” from the
government of
Trinidad and
Tobago - the
home of pan
and where the
steelpan is
the
“national
instrument.”
This truly had
been a ‘solo
act’ for months
with supporters,
friends and
family, and
fundraising
activities coming
in to play,
to ‘drum up’
the necessary
funding to make
the trip from
Trinidad to
Montreal even
possible.
“The whole experience
was a monumental
undertaking!”
exclaimed Mannette
to When Steel
Talks.
“But it was
all worth it.
Look at them,”
he said, pointing
to the youngsters,
“look how happy
they are!”
And he was also
extremely pleased
at the accomplishments
of the thirty
young steelpan
musicians ranging
in ages ten
through eighteen
years.
Nine adults
functioning
in management
and chaperone
capacities accompanied
the group from
Trinidad.
Their story
began almost
one year ago
after Mannette
became aware
of the Montreal
International
Steelpan Festival
through
When Steel Talks’
coverage of
the 2009 event.
He contacted
the event organizers
and expressed
the band’s desire
to appear at
the 2010 show.
By September
2009 the band
had in hand,
their invitation
letter from
the organizers,
upon which the
reality of “how
on earth were
we going to
pull this off”
(funding for
the trip) hit
home!
Starlift
Juniors
in Montreal
What Starlift
Juniors’ management
and supporters
were able to
achieve in the
next few months
could only be
described as
‘phenomenal.’
The valuable
lessons learned
through this
exercise allowed
the music organization
to call upon
and develop
extraordinary
entrepreneurial
skills, innovativeness
and business
savvy.
These will not
soon be forgotten,
if ever, and
others may want
to look into
their model
for what turned
out to be a
hard-won and
successful venture.
The management
of the band
not only dealt
with the fundraising
for travel and
related appearance
expenses; they
also engaged
and arranged
their flights,
lodging, and
ground travel
in Montreal.
The young steelpan
musicians moved
like a small
army - very
efficient -
and could be
seen emerging
from the Metro
(subway) for
their show.
Due to the prohibitive
costs of shipping
steelpan basses
up from Trinidad,
it had turned
out to be a
‘godsend’ that
hosts Salah’s
Steelpan Academy
utilized the
same configuration
of bass instruments.
The young bassists
happily ‘jumped
into the saddle’
and played on.
Barry Mannette,
arranger
and musical
director
for Starlift
Junior Steel
Orchestra
Event organizer
Salah Wilson
was very impressed
with Starlift
Junior’s commitment,
crediting their
leaders and
the parents
for their success.
“Barry Mannette
really took
charge!” says Salah.
Mrs. Wilson
- wife of Salah
- and assistant
director of
Salah’s Steelpan
Academy, was
also quite taken
with Barry Mannette’s
respect for
his young charges,
and his rapport
with them.
This is Starlift
Junior Steel
Orchestra’s
first international
tour; and the
experience gained
and lessons
learnt will
have an extraordinary
impact on the
shaping of the
lives of these
young musicians
for years to
come.
Starlift
Juniors
Steel Orchestra
perform
for crowd
in downtown
Montreal
Also - the friendships
that blossomed
among the young
musicians of
all the groups
present:
Starlift Juniors,
St. Monica’s,
Coronation School
and
Salah’s Steelpan
Academy,
were most evident.
The excited
youngsters could
be seen exchanging
hugs, picture
poses with each
other,
Facebook
profiles on
their phones
and dancing
together coming
toward the end
of the evening.
These friendships
and interactions
are truly the
building blocks
for lifelong
relationships.
The power of
the pan was
truly crystallized
in this setting.
It yet again
showed that
steel pan is
far more than
simply an instrument.
In addition
to the fertile
ground to forge
new friendships,
the opportunities
for travel to
places normally
unreachable
for these young
people, are
priceless.
Trinidad and
Tobago should
be extremely
proud of Starlift
Junior Steel
Orchestra, both
in terms of
their performance,
and how they
conducted themselves
- they were
truly skilled
and gracious
young ambassadors!
Contact Starlift
Junior Steel
Orchestra:
bmannette@hotmail.com
Contact
festival
organizer
Salah
Wilson:
salah@steelpanplus.com
Starlift
Junior Steel
Orchestra
in Montreal
Leave a comment
in the WST forum
|