Youth on Steel
Meet our youth pan leaders
What is Youth on Steel?
Youth on Steel — an inaugural video storytelling project of Esther Dalton Foundation — follows four young steel pannists from Trinidad and Tobago. The videos chronicle their introduction to, relationships with, and aspirations for the steelpan (pan) in the days leading up to their performances at the 2018 National Junior Panorama Competition.
Their collective stories highlight the ways in which the islands’ national instrument has influenced all aspects of their personal and social development, and specifically underscore the pride, discipline, and camaraderie that result from exposure to its history and modern adaptations. As the next generation of the steelpan maneuver, negotiate, and come of age in the nurturing yet candid environment of their panyard communities, they do so with specific visions of the instrument’s place on the local and international stage.
Please take a moment to explore the stories of our four superstars!
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Krisana Mitchell is the co-captain of St. Francois Girls College Steel Orchestra and proud to leave her legacy as a female pannist at the school. She learned the dynamics of leadership and worked with students of different personalities and skill levels to ensure all members of the band played with one voice. Krisana led the all-girls orchestra to win its sixth secondary schools’ title at the National Schools’ Panorama in 2018.
Behind the Music – St. Francois Girls College Steel Orchestra
One of the oldest school steel orchestras in Trinidad, St. Francois Girls College Steel Orchestra was established in 1973. A “stage side” ensemble of 25 student pannists play throughout the year. During the carnival season, the orchestra is 65-pannists strong for the National Junior Panorama competition. The orchestra attracts students from age 11 to 19.
Emmanuel Joseph is a student of St. Mary’s College in Port of Spain, Trinidad, and the co-captain of the BP Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra. His dream for the artform is for all pannists to be proficient in music theory. He believes that the steelpan community would benefit, as the pannists would be more versatile and it would possibly reduce the rehearsal time.
Behind the Music – BP Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra
The BP Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra was formed in 1999. This young orchestra first entered the National Junior Panorama in 2002. The orchestra has since gone on to achieve 11 National Junior Panorama titles. The orchestra has toured extensively to countries such as Italy, Germany, France, Norway, Venezuela, and to Carifesta held in Suriname in 2008.
When we met Sydney Nichols, she was the 11-year-old co-captain of the Guaico Presbyterian Steel Orchestra. Sydney’s shyness melts when she stands behind her instrument and her spirit comes alive. With the support of her parents and her teachers, she is committed to pursuing her love of the instrument and is able to balance her academic commitments and her extra-curricular activities.
Behind the Music – Guaico Presbyterian Steel Orchestra
Guaico Presbyterian Steel Orchestra is an integral part of the primary school where it was established in east Trinidad. The steel orchestra was formed in 2012 by the husband and wife team of Kayle and Anna Noel, who are both musicians. Today, 35 students, ranging in age from six to 12, belong to the orchestra.
Shania James is a member of the Birdsong Youth Steel Orchestra and pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from the University of Trinidad and Tobago. She is the first person in her family to attend university. She dreams of being a steelpan arranger. In the meantime she teaches pan and balances school, panyard life, and part-time employment. She is an advocate for music theory in the panyard, which she believes will make pannists an invaluable part of any orchestra.
Behind the Music – Birdsong Youth Steel Orchestra
Birdsong Steel Orchestra was established 1973 on the St. Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies. The orchestra is now a registered charity. In 2004, an academy was established as the educational arm with a mandate to provide free, year-long music education to young people 11 to 20 years of age from the community. Though rooted in the steelband movement the academy reaches beyond the steelpan to include other instruments – keyboard, string, wind, brass, and percussion instruments. Students are trained to be well-rounded musicians with the skills and competence to enjoy a lifetime of music either recreationally or professionally.
