Ministry launches pan programme for music schools

The Ministry of the Arts and Multiculturism will launch its Music Schools in the Panyard programme tomorrow at the Exodus Pan Theatre, Eastern Main Road, St Augustine, at 3 pm. The ground-breaking initiative of the Division of Culture, will see master artistes and icons assigned to six music schools for 16 weeks beginning June 25. They will include Errol Ince, Roy Cape, Pelham “PG” Goddard and Leston Paul, among others. Venues selected for the programme are: northern region—Casablanca Pan Theatre; eastern region—Republic Bank Exodus Pan Theatre and Potential Symphony; and south/central region—Couva Joylanders and Junior Sammy Skiffle Bunch panyards. The programme is the forerunner of the Music in the Community initiative, which will be rolled out in the Ministry’s 2013 Music Education Programme.

 

 

Ministry officials, Auburn Wiltshire and Ian Clarke, are co-ordinating the programme, under the supervision of director of Culture, Ingrid Ryan-Ruben who, Pan Buzz understands, holds this project near and dear to her heart. Representatives of Pan Trinbago and its various regions, and members of the Diplomatic Corps are expected among the invitees. Pan Buzz welcomes this idea, which is designed to save “1000 lives” according to Wiltshire. That’s the number of students the Culture Division expects to participate.

 

 

 

• Registration opens for Panorama 2013

The action has already started for Panorama 2013. Pan Trinbago is wasting no time as registration opened last Monday, and will close on July 13. Bands are urged to get their forms early from the regional offices—north, east, south/central and head office, 14-17 Park Street, Port-of-Spain, and submit them on time. Semifinals (Savannah Party) will be held on January 27 2013; with finals on February 9.

 

 

• Archbishop of pan

Roman Catholic Archbishop Father Joe Harris is local as callaloo and crab, or a roti and red Solo for that matter. So it’s no surprise when the down-to-earth cleric went on the tenor pan, much to the delight of Catholics at last Sunday’s  service at the Queen’s Park Savannah, steelbands’ muster point. Now, Father Harris is no Len “Boogsie “ Sharpe by any stretch of the imagination, but he sure looked good behind the pan. Boogsie is the composer of the song Archbishop of Pan, in tribute to the late great Pat Bishop. I don’t think he had Father Harris in mind when he composed the song, but he won’t mind sharing the title with a true, true archbishop. Did I hear someone say Father Harris will line up with Petrotrin Phase Two Pan Groove for Panorama 2013?

 

 

• Mothers fetes fathers

The newly-elected executive of Trinidad All Stars Association is proving to be action-oriented. Led by the dynamic Yvonne Boochoon, the executive has held a mother’s day event, prayer service, and will on Sunday host a “mothers fete fathers” function. The event will take place at their headquarters, Woodbrook Fellowship Building (upstairs) George and Park Streets, Port-of-Spain. Next stop for the Trinidad All Stars Association is a bus ride to Salybia, July 15. An Emancipation Day brunch and Independence Day barbeque are on the cards.