24 Hour Talent Marathon

World Culture Bazaar, an organization that promotes multicultural understanding through the arts, will be having their first 24 Hour Talent Marathon on New Year's Eve. Visionary and Founder Frank Forde would like  to have a FREE event for the diverse communities of Toronto and give artists a stage to perform and be celebrated. Pastor Basil Miller of Scarborough Church of God graciously opened his doors to the idea. The event will be infused with dance, live music and poetry from all age groups and cultures. 

Highlight sessions for the event will include a New Year's Eve church service, morning Thanks & Praise Breakfast, Kwanzaa Celebration, Family Showcase and awards ceremony for Champions of Culture.

I am excited to be a part of this endeavor. We live in a wonderful city whereby we have the opportunity to share our art & culture with our fellow Torontonians. It is through this sharing we are able to have understanding and respect for others and appreciate what makes them special. #ILoveThisCity

Throwback Thursdays

I have never posted a pic for #tbt better known Throwback Thursdays. For those of you who are new, it's the name of a weekly post theme whereby you post old photos. I found this photo the other day and decided to share my throwback photo. Here it is...

The story behind this photo: This was taken at the Leah Poslun's Theatre in 1998. Afropan Steelband was performing in the annual Snowflakes On Steel Concert.

Congratulations to Souls of Steel Orchestra!

On Wednesday December 4th, Souls of Steel Orchestra and Sanch Canada Inc announced the release of Souls' debut CD, "The Arrival".

Souls of Steel has been in existence for six years and has made an incredible impression upon the Toronto community. Many were in attendance to congratulate the orchestra and their accomplishments.

Steelpan With Souls

Steelpan classes for teens (14 years & up) and adults will be starting January 22 for 10 weeks. Come and learn about the history and development of this illustrious instrument and learn to play a song.

We have a lot of fun so bring a friend. Limited spots available.

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Panyard Problems...

Sometimes when you go out and perform you encounter people who want to try your instrument. I always let people try it however I first explain what they can and cannot do and how easily they can put it out of tune by banging on it. Every once in a blue moon, someone comes right up to your instrument and tries to hit it -with their hand or an object...Patience is a virtue.

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Raising Awareness for MOVEMBER

Movember is a month long international initiative raising awareness and money for men's health (prostate & testicular cancer and men's mental health).

My MOTIVATION for getting involved is because my uncle passed away from prostate cancer. I would like to keep his memory alive by helping to create awareness, especially to the men within my community, about the benefits of taking a proactive approach towards being healthy. As well, I would like people know they should not be embarrassed about seeking help. There are men in our lives who are our support systems, as well, we are should be theirs. The more we educate ourselves & others about these causes the bigger steps we take towards finding their cures.

I will be speaking in more detail about Movember at an upcoming Movember themed World Culture Bazaar talent night. Hope you can make it out and support the men in our community and around the world.



Culture Days 2013 is HERE!

Culture Days, a 3 day celebration of culture with over 800 cities participating across the country. Now in it's 4th year, Culture Days has becoming of the must attend festivities within the city.

For a second year I had the opportunity to organize and present free workshops to the community, showcasing the history and development of the steelpan. Students from High Park Day School and Garden School were invited to High Park Library and had a fun time learning and getting the opportunity to try the instruments. 

This is a great experience and I wholeheartedly encourage all to get involved, especially if you have something to contribute to the community. Culture Days has a great website with tons of info to help you get started. Think about it for Culture Days 2014...

 

Sounds of Freedom

The Toronto Community Advisory Board in conjunction with Canada's Democracy Week presented "Sounds of Freedom".  The focus of this event was to rally awareness of our democratic rights and responsibilities as well as highlighting music's role in revolutions around the world.

I had the opportunity to perform with award winning Juno artist Korexion and participate in an interactive game that focused on teaching the participants about Democracy Week.

Rainy Wedding Afternoon...

Weddings are a joyous and blessed event when family and friends come together to celebrate 2 people joining in a sacred union. The date has been set for the picture perfect outdoor wedding and then... it rains. Not only rains but pours. What now? You wait to see if the rain will let up. The guests are indoors anticipating the ceremony, outside the chairs are drenched and you would think this would be enough to drive any bride to be to pieces.

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Not at this wedding. Guests came out with umbrellas and a smile and welcomed the bride to be down the aisle as she elegantly walked through the rain as if it were blessings from above. Minutes later as the happy couple exchanged their vows, the clouds literally parted and the sun shone down on them. 

"And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton

Culture Days: Steelpan With Suzette

Culture Days, a 3 day cross Canada celebration is quickly approaching. Artists and organizations all across the country will be offering workshops to their communities for FREE! I too have decided to hold not 1 but 4 workshops this year. Hope you can make it out to at least one event.  

Click on the image to be taken to the Culture Days website for more information. 

Impact Steel Orchestra

What a wonderful summer I have been having, performing around the city at different events and keeping busy. One way that really matters is when I get the opportunity to teach people about the illustrious instrument, the steelpan. I, along with Andre Rouse, Artistic Director of Souls of Steel, have had the pleasure of teaching the Steelpan to youth who are a part of Impact 'n Communities. They are a "registered not for profit, social service, community development and engagement organization that is steadily working to improve communities across the GTA."

We've been with them for the past 4 weeks and have been having a blast teaching them about the history and development of pan. The students have also see footage of steelbands and soloists from around the world.

I'll keep you up to date and let you know when "Impact Steel Orchestra" will be performing.

 

Largest Steelpan

I came across a video on youtube entitled "Palm Beach Steel Drums 46 inch Pan".

The company Reel Ting created this massively big steelpan dubbed the "Terminator".  As well it has been submitted the Guiness World Records for being the largest steeldrum.

The record has been held by Jomo Wahtuse
"The largest steelpan is the elliptical "Jomoline" which measures 104 cm (3 ft 4 in) wide and 84 cm (2 ft 9 in) tall. It was created by Jomo Wahtuse (Trinidad and Tobago) and presented and measured in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on 12 November 2010.
The instrument has 30 segmented chambered notes and has a tonal range from D-5 to G-3. The width of its skirt is 18 cm (7 in)."  Guiness World Records
 
I have never seen anything like this but I do know that I want one. Take a look at the video and let me know what you think. Cheers!

Culture Days @ the Library Presents: Suzette Vidale

Culture Days @ the Library Presents: Suzette Vidale Steelpan Artist & Educator This video is the second installment of a four part series featuring Toronto artists participating in the Culture Days @ the Library program.

Culture Days @ the Library Presents: Suzette Vidale
Steelpan Artist & Educator

This video is the second installment of a four part series featuring Toronto artists participating in the Culture Days @ the Library program. Presented by Toronto Public Library, the Neighbourhood Arts Network and Ontario Culture Days, Culture Days @ the Library offers artists an opportunity to take their practice out of their private studios and into the accessible spaces of library branches so that the public can discover and engage with their work.

Suzette Vidale is a returning Culture Days @ the Library artist, who will be presenting "Steelpan with Suzette" on Friday, September 27, 2013 at the High Park Library and Saturday, September 28, 2013 at the Parliament Street Library. More information on her activities can be found on the Culture Days website: http://ow.ly/odsPz

- See more at: http://culturedays.ca/blog/2013/08/23/culture-days-the-library-presents-suzette-vidale/#sthash.gnsYvVaj.dpuf

 

Happy 20th Anniversary Pilaros Taste of the Danforth!

This year I had the honour of playing for the Pilaros Taste of the Danforth. I had such an enjoyable time playing outside of Castries Barber Salon. A 30 + year shop that it well known for impromptu musical performances. The crowd enjoyed the music and even joined us with singing some of the songs.

Click the see enlarged photo.

Culture Days Connections

Greetings everyone!

Hope all is well. It has been a little while since I have said hello and just wanted to update you on my progress with Culture Days.

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In my last newsletter I mentioned taking my workshop, "Steelpan With Suzette", to the next level. This idea stemmed from an attendee, while attending the first National Congress on Culture, who mentioned the importance of being aware of ensuring that our workshops are accessible to all. Last year, I made sure the location of my workshop was wheelchair accessible. However, I left the conference thinking about her statement.

I had been recently thinking about my grandmother who had passed when I was about 9 years old.
She was a woman with a loving spirit who had become progressively blind due to glaucoma. She never had the opportunity to see or hear about my love for the steelpan since I took it up as a teenager.

I thought about what it would have been like for me to play for her and even get her to play.

A few days after the conference I said to myself, "I would like to give a steelpan workshop for the visually impaired and blind".

My grandmother Elouise "Mammie Loy" and myself at age 8. Outside Sanderson Library , location of 2012 Culture Days workshop "Steelpan With Suzette"  

My grandmother Elouise "Mammie Loy" and myself at age 8.

Outside Sanderson Library , location of 2012 Culture Days workshop "Steelpan With Suzette"

 

I had never done this type of workshop and connected with Catherine McLeod, Ontario Culture Days Interim Manager. Having previously been involved in art accessibility projects, she was able to give me some valuable advice and suggestions towards making this a reality.

I also put forth the idea to the Parliament Street Library who invited me to do a workshop for Culture Days. Branch manager Barry Gray was very supportive of my proposed workshop.

I know I have a lot of work ahead of me and I'm sure there are challenges I haven't envisioned but I am confident. Just knowing that I can connect and share my gift is a joy.

I really would like to reiterate the words that were told to us while sitting in the audience at the conference that day (paraphrased), “those that will be presenting an activity for Culture Days to consider making your workshop accessible to allow everyone to be able to participate”. At the end of the day, isn't that what it's all about?

Suzette

"Communities that include everyone become stronger and everyone wins."
Jane Imbody

 

World Under 23 Ultimate Championships 2013

I had the honour of performing for the closing ceremonies of the WFDF (World Flying Disc Federation) World Under 23 Ultimate Championships 2013 at York University. There were athletes representing from Canada, US, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, and Germany.  I had  a great time watching the finals between Canada and the US and hadn't realized how exciting the games are.

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