It's been a big year for pan. Here in T&T, one of the highlights has been the celebration of the first anniversary of World Steelpan Day on August 8, replete with dazzling performances from the nation's top steelbands in the heart of Port of Spain. 2024 also saw Trinbago move one step closer to having the steelpan officially recognised as the country's national instrument with the passing of the National Music Instrument Bill in the Lower House of Parliament.
To top it all off, The UWI also brought to a close its year-long celebration of the 20th anniversary of UWI Arts Steel, the campus's own steel orchestra which is currently co-conducted by Mr Jessel Murray and Mr Khion De Las, who is himself an alumnus of the group.
The steel orchestra, known for their virtuosity, musicality, and commitment to the craft, was founded in 2002 by a group of undergraduate students hoping to take part in the "small ensemble" category of the World Steelpan Festival. The following year, the reigns were handed over to Mr Murray and the late Mr Nervin Saunders – affectionately called “Teach” by those who knew him. The group was officially adopted into The UWI's Department of Creative and Festival Arts (DCFA) department.
Jessel Murray, Head of DCFA, conducts UWI Arts Steel in a performance for their 20th anniversary. PHOTO: COURTESY THE DEPARTMENT OF CREATIVE AND FESTIVAL ARTS.
Since then, the department’s steel orchestra has enjoyed a successful career. Its latest achievement is the screening of a recording of “Dancing on Steel” at the prestigious Percussive Arts Society International Conference (PASIC).
The live performance of Dancing on Steel, which consisted of six original pan pieces and local folk dance performances composed by the DCFA’s Dr Jeannine Remy, and accompanied by local folk dances choreographed by Ms Joanna Charles, took place at Queen's Hall on September 15, marking the latest milestone in the group's two decades of existence.
"We've been around for 20 years, and if you are asking what the high points have been, well, they've certainly been a lot of them!" says Mr Murray. "However, I will say that Dancing on Steel is one of the biggest things that we've done in recent years and something of which we are very proud."
Dancing on Steel is only one of UWI Arts Steel’s many achievements over the last two decades. Most years they put on at least two concerts. The group boasts of being chosen by local pan legend Ray Holman to record six of his original works for a CD entitled Changing Time in 2006, and also prides itself on its several international performances in conjunction with The UWI Arts Chorale in Barbados, Belize, Mexico, and the United States.
Through all this, however, Mr Murray notes that “the legacy of which we are most proud, is the sheer volume of graduates who are now at the forefront of achievement in the steelpan world and beyond.”
Both Mr De Las and Mr Murray note that one of the main elements that set UWI Arts Steel apart is the group's professionalism, their desire to bring out the absolute best from their players, and their mission to master the intricacies of the instrument. Their aim, according to Mr Murray, is to attain the highest levels of proficiency. Developing a love for the instrument may be a good start, but it is far from enough to reach the level of virtuosity of which UWI Arts Steel is known.
He shares this message of dedication with his players.
"It's great that you are in love with the instrument," he says, "but now the hard work begins. Playing pan well is almost like a love affair. As soon as you get past your first blushes is when you need to begin the real work of nurturing your relationship for the rest of your life."
Mr De Las stresses another one of UWI Arts Steel’s defining characteristics – musicality.
"For us," he says, "It's not just about hitting the pan and playing loudly or softly. We do our best to emulate the same colours that you would get from a traditional orchestra with bassoons and violins and violas. We also train upcoming conductors and focus on showing them how to shape the music and the sounds of the pan; how to bring out the colours of the instrument to differentiate the timbre and style of playing from that of a traditional steelband."
UWI Arts Steel has accomplished a lot in its short lifetime, and as the steel orchestra moves into their 21st year, lovers of the national instrument and music in general look forward to many more years of creativity, concerts, and musical excellence.
