As we say in T&T, “it does not fall far from the tree”. True to form so it is with 17-year-old Jaden Teague-Nuñez, son of T&T’s noted internationally renowned pannist Liam Teague and Lorena Nuñez, former principal violist of the Panama National Symphony Orchestra.
They are a family of musicians, as Jaden’s younger sister Jeida, 12, is a budding pannist and pianist.
According to dad Liam, they enjoy referring to their son as “Trinimanian” and “Panadadian” given his parents’ roots.
Dad Liam is a professor of music and director of steelpan studies at Northern Illinois University (NIU) where he also leads the renowned NIU Steelband. He has been hailed the “Paganini of the Steelpan” who has taken the instrument to all corners of the earth.
(www.niu.edu/music/faculty/teague.shtml).
Born in Panama and now living with his family in DeKalb, Illinois, where he attends DeKalb High School, Jaden made history early in 2024 by becoming the first pan player to win the Crain-Mailing Foundation Chicago Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition.
His historic victory featured his performance of his father’s composition ‘Visit to Hell’ for steelpan solo and orchestra.
Earlier this year, he was named a 2025 YoungArts winner with distinction in classical/percussion by the National Foundation for the Advancement of Artists.
As a winner Teague-Nuñez participated in an all-expenses paid National YoungArts Week from January 5-12 earlier this year in Miami, Florida. He is also eligible to be nominated as a US Presidential Scholar in the Arts, one of the highest honours given to high-school seniors as well as a variety of support from YoungArts, including exclusive creative and professional development support, micro-grants and financial awards and presentation opportunities with major venues and cultural partners in the US.
When and how did you get into playing and teaching the steelpan?
On my seventh or eighth birthday, my dad gave me my first pan. At first, I thought it was really cool, as I saw him playing in such a virtuosic fashion and I didn’t realise the years of hard work that he invested.
Was it something you had to work hard at or did it come naturally?
It was definitely something I had to work hard at. However, I believe I had an advantage growing up in a household with two parents who are wonderful musicians, as they were able to guide me in many ways.
Who were the people who have influenced you the most in your career and in life in general, and how did they?
My parents, Liam Teague and Lorena Núñez, have most influenced me throughout my life. They have always emphasised the importance of education and having a good character (being a good person, hardworking, etc).
Who are your role models/who inspires you?
Anyone who has become successful despite coming from humble circumstances. A common characteristic for people that I look up to is their dedication and work ethic, but especially when they are at a low point in their life and they feel to just give up, but instead, choose to keep working and become successful.
What are your favourite calypso/soca songs?
For soca, anything by Machel Montano, Bunji Garlin and Destra Garcia, and in calypso anything by Lord Kitchener, David Rudder and Ras Shorty I.
What are your hobbies?
My favourite hobbies are practicing mixed martial arts and I enjoy watching football, basketball, professional wrestling and martial arts.
What are your goals and dreams in terms of your steelpan talent?
I plan to use my talent to educate people around the world about the many different possibilities of the pan.
What daily motto/credo do you live by—your recipe for success that you can share with your generation?
One of them is “if other people can do it, why can’t I?”. Initially, people you look up to seem like they’re superhuman and can do things no one else in the world can do. However, one usually sees the end result and not the process.
Another one that I have is to rely more on dedication rather than motivation. Motivation comes and goes and there are days where I don’t feel like practicing or learning, but I push myself regardless.
What are your most prized possessions: one tangible, one intangible?
My instruments (pans, piano, percussion) are the tangibles while the support from all my loved ones will be the intangible.
Of all your shows, concerts, performances so far, which would you like a first-time audience, listener or viewer to experience?
One concert I would love for first-time viewers of mine to see is the concert I did in Naples, Florida as part of Mrs Jodie DeSalvo’s “Piano Talks” series with her and my dad, Liam Teague. This performance featured almost everything that I had to offer in front of a sold-out crowd: classical music on steelpan, classical and jazz piano, and drumset, as well as playing piano duos with Mrs DeSalvo.
Of all your accolades, prizes and awards which do you rate as extremely special?
Two of my biggest accolades are winning the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Crain-Maling Foundation Young Artists Competition and the 2025 YoungArts Winner with Distinction in classical/percussion by the National Foundation for the Advancement of Artists (aka YoungArts). These were extremely special for me because I became the first ever pan player to audition and win these awards.
If you had to perform for an audience who had never heard or seen you before and you had to perform one song, which would you?
I would perform Liam Teague’s “A Visit to Hell”. This rhapsodic piece displays various emotions and contrasting techniques, also allowing me to convey the story in a dramatic fashion with my body movements and resonates deeply with audiences.
What is an interesting facet of your personality that most people do not know about you?
I have actually been practicing martial arts for ten years—this is longer than I have been a musician. I initially wanted to be a martial artist and compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (the première mixed martial arts organisation). However, looking at the short and damaging careers most fighters have had, I made the “tough” decision of sticking with music.
What is the best compliment you have ever received?
It warms my heart when people tell me how far they have travelled to hear me. I find it very fascinating that my playing can affect people in such an impactful manner.
What are your plans for the rest of 2025?
Every year, my priority is to be better than I was the previous year. That includes music, health and growing as a person. I also have several upcoming concerts and recording sessions, including a performance of Kevin Bobo’s “Rhapsody in Steel” with the Wheaton Municipal Band, recording with the Pan Chromatic Steelband in Madison, Wisconsin; and with 15-year-old violin virtuoso Neal Eisfeldt on Jan Bach’s “Bach Talk” for steelpan and violin.
How can readers find out more about you and keep up to date with your latest news?
Website: jadenteaguenunez.com; Instagram: jadenteaguenunez; FaceBook: jadenteaguenunez; YouTube: jadenteaguenunez
Describe yourself in two words; one beginning with J, the others with T and, your initials? (When I interviewed your dad back in 2014 he gave Loving and Thankful as his answers!)
Joyful, Thankful, Natural.