Alpha Pan Pioneers ready for Steelpan Music Festival

Alpha Pan Pioneers Steel Orchestra is a steelband in the community of St Joseph RC, Tobago, an extension of the parish’s music ministry. The orchestra actively participates in church events and spreads God’s love in the local community through the steelpan.

In response to the increasing secularism among youth, Mathias Marfan, the band’s manager, recognised the need for a safe space for young people to socialise, leading to the establishment of the Alpha Pan Pioneers Steel Orchestra. During the Synodal Meeting in 2022 at Scarborough RC Church, the band’s captain, Marina Marfan, emphasised the importance of youth development within the parish and highlighted how the ministry offers a platform for young individuals to mature and express themselves.

Coming up in August, the orchestra is set to compete in the preliminary round of the National Steelpan Music Festival at a pan tent in Bacolet, Tobago.

Unlike the annual Panorama Competition, this contest provides the band with a wider range of songs to choose from, requiring the player to adjust their musical skills to deliver a successful performance.

Keishaun Julien, the band’s musical director, noted, “At the steelband music festival, musicians must adapt to tunes originally written for traditional instruments such as the recorder or stringed instruments. This presents a real challenge for steelpan players.”

Additionally, Julien noted that the music festival presents a valuable opportunity for the steelband movement, allowing young and aspiring pannists to develop their musical skills. The band is devoting considerable time to rigorous rehearsals for the upcoming competition, with parishioners juggling church activities to aid in the preparations. Marina has voiced her concerns about the challenges they are facing during rehearsals. “Rehearsals have been somewhat difficult due to distractions like preparing for Father’s Day concerts and an unexpected funeral service.”

She also highlighted the increased difficulty of this competition, noting that “only six bands will advance to the next round.” Consequently, additional practice sessions have been scheduled to ensure the band’s readiness for their performance on August 4.

Despite the numerous challenges the band has encountered, Marina believes the band will be prepared for the competition and urges the church community to attend and show their support.

—Gabrielia Sooklal