According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), the bank’s Branch Operations Manager Denise Hobbs and Communications/Public Relations Officer Jonelle Dummett handed over the cheque to Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony. Permanent Secretary Alfred King and Steelband Coordinator Andrew Tyndall witnessed the simple ceremony, the release said.
The steelband competition is one of several highlights on the calendar of activities for Mashramani celebrations. The contest is set for February 14 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. This competition is expected to attract 12 participating bands, which is a significant increase from last year. It will also see a difference in the judging criteria. Small bands and junior categories will be competing and will be playing carnival and classical pieces. There is also a notable increase in the junior soloist category. So far, 10 competitors have submitted their registration forms. Tyndall said youth involvement in the art form is important to nurturing the talent.
According to the minister, there will be a major boost in the standards of the competition as many of the competitors had participated in a workshop facilitated by acclaimed Trinidadian musician, composer, pannist and performer Ray Holman. Holman spent time in Guyana working with local pan musicians on arranging music, at a workshop facilitated by Republic Bank.
A renowned international artiste, Holman also arranged and recorded with steel bands and artistes in the USA, Canada, Latin America, Japan and Europe including television performances with the German National Orchestra, GINA said. He has also won several prestigious musical awards including the Hummingbird Silver Medley of Merit from the Govern-ment of Trinidad and Tobago and a Pan Legend Award from the New York Folk Arts Institute and the US Congress.
GINA also reported that the bank committed to facilitating another workshop later this year on tuning of music. “I think the commitment that we have seen from Republic Bank is not just a one-off action but it’s an ongoing interest in the development of steelband in Guyana and we are very pleased to have this partnership with the Bank,” Anthony said.
The steelband made its way into Guyana two years after it started in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago during the 1945 J’ouvert celebrations. The celebration included the use of bottles, spoons and rubbish bin covers and discarded 45 gallon drums as the musical accompaniment. These instruments later became the “going thing” on the island and gave birth to the term “steelband.”
GINA said in 1947 the Trinidadian bands made their first appearance in Georgetown. Their impressive performance influenced the locals to adopt the musical art form and by 1953, local bands began emerging. Guyanese pan icon Roy Geddes, who is a master in every facet of steelpan, realised his potential as a youngster in the early 1950s when he was a member of Casablanca. His knowledge and experience in the art form was enough for him to branch off and form his own band “Silvertones” in 1946. With 56 years of experience, Geddes is today considered a “grand professor” of pan in Guyana. In 1971, he was honoured with the Medal of Honour and in 1996 the Golden Arrow of Achievement for his contributions to the art form.
