Steel pan Summer Training programme nets 27 new players

A five-week steel pan Summer Training Programme has netted 27 new pan players for the Sandy Bay Secondary School.

An initiative of the Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra in conjunction with the UK Friends of the Mustique Charitable Trust, saw trainer, Septimus Caine and St Clair Lewis introducing the students to the instrument.

Trainer Septimus Caine

The programme which took place at the school’s temporary base at Mount Young, saw the players first learning the various scales, before venturing out into playing songs on their own.

Caine, who was the main trainer told SEARCHLIGHT that he was pleased to work with the students.

“ They were very receptive to the training… They were very enthusiastic and were present everyday”, Caine highlighted.

Caine, who is the Vice- Captain of the Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra, noted that the attributes of the students made his work lighter.

The new pan players were able to demonstrate their new skills last Sunday at a Graduation Ceremony, held in their honour.

Among the pieces executed were “Jerusalema”, “Librarian Girl”, “ No, No No” and “Wrong Again”.

Before their energetic performance, the 27 students were presented with certificates.

The graduation ceremony was punctuated with remarks from the Principal of the Sandy Bay Secondary School, Brendon Child; chair of the Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra, Warren Knights, along with I’ Sheka De Riggs of the Youlou Pan Movement; Administrative Director of the Mustique Charitable Trust, Dularie Malcolm; Parliamentary Representative for North Windward, Montgomery Daniel and Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves.

Buoyed by the re-introduction of the steel pan to the school, Child said he is hopeful that the new cohort of pan players will spur others to join.

Child is equally optimistic that given the renewed interest in the art form at the institution the school will be entering the Junior Panorama competition in 2023.