Make sure you register early to reserve a spot! Experience in music is not required.
Mayor Arts Lunch
After performing for the reception of the Neighbourhood Arts Network last week, I was invited to both perform and present an award to an arts group that has made an invaluable contribution to the citizens of our city. What an experience! I was honoured to have the opportunity to perform with "PanMan Pat" McNeilly, Hameed "The Pan Piper" Shaq, and Jeff Walcott aka "Choco" as a strolling steelband (pan round the neck) to open the awards luncheon. These musicians are pillars in the steelpan community and have paved the way for generations to come.
It was inspiring to hear the numerous stories about artists and art organizations that used their creativity to educate, inspire and uplift the many communities of Toronto.
Shout out and CONGRATS to CUE, Phillip Aiken, Jordan Tannahil and Michee Mee on their wins in their respected categories. Continue to be the example for those of us who are striving as well to make a positive difference.
Pomp & Circumstance
So proud of the children & adult steelpan class graduates who embarked on a 5 week introduction to steelpan course. It has been a great journey discovering what makes the steelpan so special. Love your enthusiasm for learning. Shout out to Isaiah, Afropan Steelband - The People's Band, Earl La Pierre Jr., Tamara Pierre, Besse, Beverley Redhead, Kerry-Ann Wright,Leona Ramsay. It's been a great spring session, looking forward to many more!
HOORAY! We did it!
HUGE THANKS to everyone who followed and visited the Neighbourhood Arts Network to vote for the magnificent community projects happening in our city. 60 projects, 10 finalists, 6 winners. My project "Steelpan With Suzette", along with 5 others, was awarded a prize from the BMO Seed Fund. Your votes really mattered, your support shows us that we indeed are on the right path to educate, engage and inspire our communities. Thanks for the fantastic opportunities to be able to give back!
More photos coming soon!
Steelpan Community Project | I made it to the TOP 10!
Greetings everyone!
I received great news. The Neighbourhood Arts Network (a Toronto wide network of over 1025 members, including artists, arts organizations, cultural workers and community agencies working throughout the city of Toronto) offered their members an opportunity to put forth a project they are working on and possibly be chosen to received $1000 from their BMO Seed Fund.
My project, Steelpan With Suzette, has made it to the TOP TEN FINALISTS.
My project will be offered during Culture Days (Sept 26th-28th), a national celebration of arts & culture. This will be my 3rd year offering a free workshop to the citizens of Toronto.
I will have sessions specifically for children, adults, the blind and visually impaired. Discussions and demonstrations will include the origins, development and current innovations. I will have special guests performing pan poetry and there will be pan performances.
Any money received from the Seed Fund will go towards project promotion, transportation of instruments & equipment, reading materials (bilingual, large print, braille), arts supplies and guest artists.
If you think this is a great project for the community please vote.
You must be logged into Facebook to do so.
Thanks!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=673242646047015&set=a.673242382713708.1073741838.120236141347671&type=3&theater
WEE FESTIVAL, Victoria Day
More photos coming soon!
Theatre Direct presents WEE FESTIVAL
May 12- 19th, Theatre Direct presented the first ever, theatre and cultural festival for the early years. I was excited about this initiative and HAD to be a part of this celebration. Early in the week I was able to attend the Wee Festival's conference, listen to and interact with "scholars and researchers from a wide variety of disciplines as they present snapshots of their research, discuss themes and trajectories relating to early years, creative development, cognitive ability, theatre, digital media, and play".
I especially enjoyed a presentation by Kate Einarson, a Ph.d candidate and researcher investigating how infants and children learn about music.
Here are a list of other topics that were presented
- Bethany Corey
A Range of Possibilities: Audience Roles in Theatre for the Very Young - Ben Fletcher-Watson
The Baby Audience: defining the developmental capabilities of babies and toddlers - Leslee Silverman
Public attitudes and trends in the context of developing, and presenting theatre for early years - Heather Fitzsimmons Frey with Emma Miles
Trends and Ideas in Theatre for Babies and Early Years - Caroline Fusco
Talking to urban children and parents about play - Hilary Leung and Nick Shim
Sago Mini – Designing and Testing Digital Play for the Very Young - Marc Richard
Creative Dance as Embodied Learning - Elyne Quan
Darkness and Light: Creating Theatre That Matters for Young Audiences or “How To Not Be Afraid of Taking Ideas Really, Really Far
I would encourage you to visit weefestival.ca to learn more about the conference and festival.
Rise Up & Rise Above
Saturday May 10th, at the Toronto Plaza Hotel, I attended and performed for Rise Above Now. This free event was dedicated to educate, empower and inspire others to become successful through means of social development, economic advancement and spiritual growth.
For more information see http://riseabovenow.tumblr.com
It's MUSIC MONDAY! Let's Celebrate!
Music Monday is an annual event that brings together thousands of students, musicians, parents and community members across the country to celebrate the gift of music in our lives, on the same day at the same time. The Coalition for Music Education launched Music Monday in 2005.
It is a full day of celebration, always on the first Monday of May. In 2013, Music Monday is on Monday, May 6th. In many communities a magical moment happens at the same point during that day, that is, at 9 am Pacific time, 10 am Mountain time, 11 am Central time, 12 pm Eastern time and 1 pm Atlantic time, and 1:30 in Newfoundland, when schools right across the country are united by one piece of music.
Across the country and around the world. Our goal is to “Fill the Skies with Music.” Hence we encourage you to take your music to the fields and to the streets on this wondrous occasion. The idea is that if one were to open the front door of his or her home and stand on the street on the first Monday in May, one would hear music and the skies would be filled with melody.
World Culture Bazaar Celebrates Sri Lanka!
What a wonderful time I had at World Culture Bazaar's monthly event celebrating art & culture. This month attendees learned about the culture of Sri Lanka. Special guests spoke on the history, traditions, art, politics and we even feasted on a few signature treats. My contribution to the event was performing the Sri Lankan national anthem. I first heard it 2 weeks ago at an event and felt compelled to learn it as the sweet melody was stuck in my head.
At the end of the evening, we toasted (non alcoholic) to a prosperous Sinhalese New Year! Suba aluth avuruddak vewa! (Happy New Year)
FREE STEELPAN CLASSES FOR KIDS
Greetings everyone! Hope all is well. I am excited to let you know that Afropan Steelband will be offering FREE steelpan classes for kids 7-13 years. I will be instructing the children classes and look forward to making music with our returning and new students. I am exceptionally happy that we are able to offer this class as I know children activities can be quite costly. Please take advantage of this offer and if you are unable to at this time, tell a friend.
Classes are every Saturday from 11am-12pm and will begin May 3rd. There is a cost for sticks which range from $10-$20 depending on the instrument. To reserve a spot, send an email to classes@afropansteelband.com with the name and age of the child. Space is limited so reserve early.
The Scoop | Networking Event
On April 9th, 2014, The Scoop, a creative networking event, took place at the Lillian H. Smith auditorium in Toronto. Culture Days Ontario spoke of engagement through culture and it's positive impact upon our communities. Toronto Public Libraries announced an offer of free venues to artists and cultural groups during Culture Days. As well, Neighbourhood Arts Network and Toronto Arts Council presented opportunities to connect artists to funding, a challenge regularly faced by creatives and organizations.
Spectacular performances by Roma Dancers, Paromita Kar and Iana Kormarnytska and soulful songstress Domanique Grant were well received.
The event was presented in partnership with Culture Days Ontario, Toronto Public Library, Toronto Arts Council and Neighbourhood Arts Network.
Photos coming soon..
Steelpan With Souls
Click to view larger image
Pan-African Book Expo Photos
Pan-African Book Expo
Pan African Book Expo, Sunday April 6 at the Jamaican Canadian Association
World Culture Bazaar Celebrates the Irish Culture
Another successful evening of sharing culture through the arts. This month World Culture Bazaar celebrated the Irish culture. More info to come...
These are the moments
Every once in awhile I meet people who are so enthralled by the steelpan, I smile a huge smile because that's how I feel too!
After a performance one afternoon, I visited Castries Barber Salon. This 40 year establishment always has instruments on hand: guitars, a djembe, bongos, tambourines and if you request it, a keyboard. A man came in with his son and daughter. Right away his daughter came over with the biggest smile on her face. I asked her what her name was and she said Alba.
Alba tried my steelpan and became very excited. After showing her how to hold the sticks and hit the notes, we began learning the tune, "Mary Had a Little Lamb". 20 minutes later Alba had the learned the song on the steelpan. What an amazing moment. She was beaming with pride. Moments like these make sharing this instrument worth it. Who knows, maybe Alba will become the next greatest pannist. Time will tell...
Canadian Chinese Junior Golf Association
I was invited to the Canadian Chinese Junior Golf Association over the March Break. Some of the kids that were there were trying golf for the first time and love it. I played for their end of week award ceremony and had a few kids that were intrigued with the steelpan and wanted to see it up close. Thanks for the invite, I had a blast!
World Culture Bazaar Celebrates Black History Month
World Culture Bazaar embarked on a second year of celebrating various cultures through the arts with people of all ages and backgrounds. What a wonderful evening it was learning about Black History with host Dewitt Lee, special guest speaker Kirk Mark and guest artist Josh Benjamin.
York South-Weston BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENT
Tuesday, February 25, from 7pm - 9pm at Greenborough Community Church (2000 Keele St)
House of Culture is a local business in York South-Weston.
This will be a great evening of entertainment, delicious food, and inspiring speakers as we celebrate Black History Month together! With performances from local Toronto artists Suzette Vidale, Beyond Sound and Dance Immersion, as well as speeches from Jean Augustine, Alvin Curling, and Lekan Olawoye, we know that the only component we are lacking in this great event is YOU!
We'd love to see you there! Please RSVP at http://yswblackhistorymonth.eventbrite.com/
Please forward this invitation widely in your networks, all are welcome!