Teenagers who participated in Right Start Pan Minor, a joint initiative between the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and Republic Bank, recently graduated in the basics of steel pan playing.
The course, a Government Information Agency (GINA) release said on Friday, commenced in early July and went on for three weeks. At the end of the period 155 teenagers graduated from the programme.
Managing Director of Republic Bank John Alves, GINA reported, said Right Start Pan Minor is the bank’s newest activity which aims at teaching teenagers the steel pan art form. The programme was being offered in Regions Four, Six and Ten.
Alves further stressed that all Guyanese must play a positive role in shaping the minds of our youths in order to help them realize their potential and to dream of real possibilities beyond their current circumstances.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony was also present at the graduation, GINA said. Anthony expressed hope that the partnership will motivate schools to participate in the Mashramani 2011 steel pan competition. He also urged the students not to take music and art lightly and to continue training so that they will improve their steel pan playing skills.
