To The Editor:
The spirited discussion and widespread interest generated by the Trinidad & Tobago Folk Arts Institute’s symposium earlier this year on the format of the steel band Panorama Competition has prompted the organization to schedule a panel discussion on the topic as its next forum at Medgar Evers College, Brooklyn, whose School of Professional & Community Development is the collaborating partner for this ongoing series centered on the indigenous folk culture of Trinidad and Tobago.
The panel discussion entitled “Deconstructing the Steel Band Panorama” will be held Thursday, April 28 in the Mary Pinkett Lecture Hall from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
We clearly had to revisit this theme, given the feedback from the Feb. 17 exercise. The question of whether Panorama, institutionally ingrained in steel band culture for 48 years now, needs to be fundamentally changed or tweaked a little, does not lack for strong and passionate points of view.
Panelists so far scheduled to participate include: Garvin Blake, acclaimed steel pan soloist and arranger; Arddin Herbert, prize-winning arranger for CASYM steel orchestra in New York and the legendary Invaders in Trinidad; and Winthrop Holder, educator, cultural activist and author of Classroom Calypso.
We are happy to be highlighting the issue to hopefully facilitate healthy discussion.
The event is free and is open to the public. For further information, call:: 718-252-6161 or 718-804-8815.
Les Slater
Chairman
Folk Arts Institute
