Young Vincy pannist wins ‘The Diana Award’

A young member of the Starlift Steel Orchestra has won the Diana Award for 2017 for St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

Sixteen-year-old Saeed Bowman, who has been transforming lives through the powerful medium of his musical talent as a steel pan player since the tender age of seven, was nominated for the award by the St Vincent and the Grenadines Preservation Fund.

The Diana Award is given out in the name of Diana, Princess of Wales, to young role models who are selflessly transforming the lives of others.

“Saeed has been using his talent at playing the steel pan to bring hope to the disadvantaged, to shine light on previously unseen problems, and to simply bring joy to disadvantaged children and youth by lighting up their lives with music. When Saeed is called upon to perform at a charity event, he shows up, he dazzles, he inspires and leaves everyone feeling better than when they arrived – and in the mood to be generous!

“Saeed has been the champion of simply doing good through music, because the causes that he has played for are as diverse as his musical ability, being both a pan and a piano player. From children in foster care to critically ill children on the pediatric ward, Saeed has used the pan to fund-raise for them and to lift the spirits of his audience with his music.

“Saeed’s music enabled many charities to raise funds and so directly benefit the afflicted, and also contributed to the renaissance of this traditional art form as his mastery of the pan inspired many young persons to take up the steel pan as an instrument of choice,” a release from the SVG Preservation Fund said.

Saeed is the son of Lesley Howard-Bowman and Roland “Rolly” Bowman and a fifth form student of the St Vincent Grammar School, where he is a deputy head boy.

He is a proud member of the Starlift Steel Orchestra and is absolutely thrilled to receive this international recognition in this special year when Starlift celebrates its 50th anniversary and hopes that the award will add to Starlift’s celebrations.

“The Preservation Fund is thrilled to have been able to shine the light on this talented community spirited musician and hope that many other young persons will seek to emulate him by giving to their communities from an early age,” the release said.