Program Pillars
The steelpan is a musical instrument indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago. Our activities are inspired by the instrument because it represents what is possible with ingenuity in the face of adversity.
Music
We believe in the research that shows music education unlocks the full creative, social, and intellectual potential of young people.
Community
We will provide a music community of love and support that engages youth in enriching learning experiences.
Leadership
We will strengthen the leadership capabilities and resilience of youth as individuals and in the communities they call home.
Vision
We dream of a steelpan music culture that helps youth leap past the obstacles that stand in the way of them reaching their full potential.
Mission
Esther Dalton Foundation uses steelpan music to inspire youth to be active learners, empowered community leaders, and positive role models.
Meet Esther
My mother, Esther Dalton, lived a life that was filled with love, laughter, and steelpan music.
Her fondness for steelpan music began when she was a little girl and endured through to her adulthood when she became a bass pan player.
She spent more than 35 years as community organizer in the steelpan culture, especially as it related to youth who were drawn to the instrument. To these young people, she was “Auntie Esther” or “Moms.” She believed that steelbands had a responsibility to the young people in their care. She also advocated for family friendly panyards, or rehearsal spaces, where intergenerational learning could occur. And, she made sure that I was exposed to and learned the instrument from a young age.
Esther Dalton Foundation is the “love legacy” of my mother’s hopes and beliefs. On this journey I am constantly reminded of one of her favourite phrases, “Try yuh best!” She would say those three words with all the fire and flavour that infuse the dialect of Trinidad and Tobago. Esther Dalton Foundation is built on that same tenacity.
~ Simone Dalton, Founder
Contact Us
We’d love to hear from you! If you have any questions, suggestions, comments, or you just want to share something with us, please get in touch.
