June 2010


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UWI Percussion Ensemble’s Fund-raising CD Project

The UWI Percussion Ensemble will be introduced to Trinidad and Tobago with the launch of their CD project, which features “light classical” music that audiences of all ages can enjoy. The CD’s musical selection demonstrates the wide variety of instruments which the group hopes to continuously augment as they explore more traditional repertoire.

he UWI Percussion Ensemble was started in Semester I of 2003 with a set of instruments that arrived in a container when Wisconsin-born Dr. Jeannine Remy moved to begin her career at the Department of Creative and Festival Arts (DCFA) at UWI, St. Augustine.

The Ensemble consists of pitched and un-pitched instruments combined to give a potpourri of interesting percussive sounds.

Students of UWI are auditioned to join the UWI Percussion Ensemble, which currently acts as both an Ensemble and option for students matriculating in either the Music Certificate or BA Degree in Music Programmes, with percussion as the major instrument.

The group has performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Austin, Texas, USA, in 2008 as part of “The Rainmakers” Tropical Journey in Percussion and Steel.

The Director, Dr. Jeannine Remy lectures in Music at the DCFA. She teaches courses in Percussion, Steelpan (arranging, history, literature), World Music, and Musics of the Caribbean. Dr. Remy first visited Trinidad in 1989 as part of her doctoral research at the University of Arizona. She continues to be an active composer, arranger, adjudicator and musical commentator in cultural music. She has participated in Panorama competitions, and took Sforzata Steel Orchestra to win the Pan in the 21st Century 2010 final, at the post-Carnival competition.

The CD was recorded by SANCH Electronix in Daaga Hall, UWI, St. Augustine. Funds for the sales of the CD are to help offset the group’s cost of performing as part of “The Rainmakers” entourage at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in 2008.

The Cost of the UWI Percussion Ensemble CD is $100. Additionally, persons interested in also owning “The Rainmakers” CD - Tropical Journey in Percussion and Steel- can purchase that double CD set at a reduced cost of $100.

Orders can be placed DCFA, UWI - Telephone: 663-2141 or 662-2002 ext. 3622/ 2510 or email Josette.Surrey-Lezama@sta.uwi.edu