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From Laventille to Cuba... with Success Laventille Secondary School Steel Orchestra, Success Stars Pan Sounds

Success Laventille Secondary School Steel Orchestra & Success Stars Pan Sounds

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The Cuban Institute of Music on behalf of the Government of Cuba, invited Success Laventille Secondary School (SLSS) steel orchestra, Success Stars Pan Sounds to visit Cuba, August 22-30, 2015.

The initiative is an educational and cultural exchange for students to interact with their peers in Cuba and visit places of interest, which will enrich their educational experience. It has received the approval of Trinidad & Tobago’s Ministry of Education.

The school’s formula for success has been to combine academic training with co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. Despite socio-economic challenges, SLSS has produced many graduates who have contributed and continue to contribute positively in Trinidad and Tobago and abroad. Included among these are some who have excelled nationally and internationally such as Jamila Harris (Economics), Nigel Austin (Molecular Biology), Andrew Hunt (Mathematics), Codrington Pan Family (Steelpan), Neisha Guy (Vocalist) and Kieron Pollard (Cricket).

Success Laventille Secondary School Steel Orchestra & Success Stars Pan Sounds

Success Laventille Secondary School is the main pilot school for the Pan in Education (PIE) software that incorporates ICT, animation, indigenous rhythms and instruments of Trinidad and Tobago for teaching a curriculum for developing Music industry professionals. The curriculum encompasses Music Literacy, Music Production, Technical English, Steelpan Manufacturing and Business modules, appropriately supported by the Social Sciences.

The group heading to Cuba consists of male and female pan music students ages 12-18, accompanied by school officials, chaperones, pan tuner and other supporting adults. Success Stars Pan Sounds boasts a rich history of musical excellence over thirty years, having captured over thirteen championship awards at Music Festivals and Panorama competitions.

Success Laventille Secondary School Steel Orchestra & Success Stars Pan Sounds

An interesting outcome of this journey will be the production of a documentary capturing the experiences during the planning and preparation, such as conversational Spanish classes, fundraising efforts, input and support from parents and the community, rehearsals, and the events in Cuba, as well as the daily life and socio-economic developments in Cuba.

In making this trip a reality the group has been in pursuit of more than TT $500,000.00, and in fact still need TT $200,00.00 to get off the ground.  Generous corporations and individuals can act—immediately—and join in making this worthy undertaking a reality.

Success Laventille Secondary School Steel Orchestra & Success Stars Pan Sounds

Invest in our youth! Make a donation now to help send students from Trinidad, Success Laventille Secondary School Steel Orchestra on this Educational and Cultural Exchange to Cuba.

Contributions can be made in two ways:

  1. In Trinidad and Tobago, deposits can be made to:
    Account name:  Success Laventille Secondary School Steel Orch.
    Scotiabank Account #: 1202636
    Branch #: 90035
    For more Information call:
    1 (868) 782-9328 (Nick Cumberbatch, Coordinator);
    1 (868) 797-5887 (Robert Hernandez, Chairman Local School Board)
    Or
  2. International donors, through GoFundMe at:
    www.gofundme.com/supportssps

There is still time; their departure date is August 22, 2015.

Visit Success Stars Pan Sound on Facebook

From the News Desk of the Friends of Success Laventille Secondary School