Invaders launches first Easter pan camp

Invaders Steel Orchestra hosted its inaugural Easter Pan Camp entitled Pan, the Pride of our People. More than 30 children attended this free one-week camp, which was musically directed by long-standing Invaders member Joanna Shortt. Shortt holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Florida Memorial University and is pursuing her Master of Philosophy in Cultural Studies at the University of the West Indies. Shortt said the camp’s music programme was designed specifically to educate the children on the rudiments of music as it pertains to the steelpan, to develop their playing techniques, and to educate them on the importance of caring for the instrument.  “My objective was to expose them to all the instruments not just one, so the exercise involved learning a simple tune and learning to play it on different instruments. This exercise built an understanding about how all the instruments work in harmony within the orchestra.”

 

 

The educational programme included an account of the historical contributions made by Invaders Steel Orchestra to the development of the steelpan movement.  The story of the band’s founders and the days of steelband clashes and the birth of the instrument was dramatically related by pan stalwart Trevor Cooper. Steelpan personalities Earl Brooks and Anise Hadeed were invited to share their skills and knowledge about the benefits of being a steelpan performer. Brooks emphasised the importance of commitment and discipline to practice, while Hadeed shared his experience about the benefits of the steelpan as a business career. The children were also treated to a tour of the Queen’s Park Oval Museum by curator Steven Almondoz and were given the opportunity to see the famous QPCC cricket grounds. The QPCC Museum incorporated Invaders history as part of the Oval’s sporting memoirs.

 

 

The camp culminated with a closing concert at which the children showcased their musical accomplishments to their parents and supporters. The show opened with a duet performance of the national anthem by Deja and Dejeana Cain, and also featured a solo performance of Stevie Wonder’s Isn’t she lovely by eight-year-old Christian Phillips. The music campers then performed an excerpt from Pachelbel’s Canon in D, Nah Goin Home and Falling In Love, for which they received a standing ovation and an encore call from the audience. A special guest appearance was made by Ken “Professor” Philmore, who complimented the children for their performance and encouraged them to keep on loving the instrument. He noted that his personal steelpan was made by Ellie Mannette, one of the founders of Invaders Steel Orchestra and was designed with the traditional F No in the centre of the instrument. After the presentation of Certificates of Participation, camp director Desiree Myers delivered the vote of thanks and encouraged the young participants to join the Invaders Youth Band. The Invaders Easter Pan Camp is part of Invaders Steel Orchestra’s community outreach programme.