Postby kaylomilo » July 27th, 2014, 11:37 pm
The National Steel Symphony Orchestra (NSSO) was formed in December 2007 and is administered by the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of the Arts and Multiculturalism. The ensemble is composed of auditioned players, many of whom are University trained, who represent the best combination of technique and literacy among steelband players in Trinidad and Tobago. Jessel Murray, the Head of the Music Unit at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, is the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Orchestra This Orchestra exclusively utilises the Genesis Pans (“G” pans) which were developed at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine by a team lead by national award winner Professor Brian Copeland, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering.
Since its debut performances in 2008 at Queen’s Hall, Naparima Bowl and the Van Guard Hotel, Tobago as well as the “Genesis in Steel” concerts as part of the NAPA Fest series in 2010, the NSSO has built a national following through it’s highly anticipated “Pan On A Higher Note” mid-year concert series. Other local performance credits have included performances at the Fifth Summit of the Americas and the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM) at the Hyatt Regency (2009); command performances for his Excellency, President Richards at President’s House for the visit of King Juan Carlos of Spain, a performance for His Royal Highness, Prince Charles at the University of the West Indies, and the welcoming concert for His Excellency Goodluck Jonathan, the President of Nigeria. The Orchestra performed at the opening of the Hyatt Regency in 2008, at the opening ceremonies of the National Academy of the Performing Arts (NAPA) in 2009; as the opening guest ensemble for the 2010 Panorama Finals at the Grandstand of the Queen’s Park Savannah; and at the official naming of the Lord Kitchener Auditorium at NAPA in 2011.
Collaborations have included Members performances with the National Sinfonia Orchestra in works specially commissioned for symphonic orchestra with the inclusion of steelpans including the world premiere of Gary Gibson’s Caprice, Gibson’s setting of Kitchener’s Rainorama and Gibson’s orchestration of Jit Samaroo’s iconic arrangement of Pan in A Minor. Further orchestral collaboration has included a special concert with members of the USA National Symphony Orchestra in honour of the fiftieth anniversary of this country’s Independence in 2012. The NSSO has also performed with leading dance companies including the Metamorphosis Dance Company, Bentley-Potter Ballet Company, and the Susan Mohip Dance Company. In the 2012 the Orchestra collaborated with the Drums of India for SteelFesTT. Leading national and regional soloists and ensembles have performed with the orchestra include Vincentian pianist Sean Sutherland, notable Trinidad and Tobago singers Candice Alcantara, Turon Nicholas, Michele Dowrich, and Christopher “Tambu” Herbert, and the UWI Arts Chorale.
International appearances have included a marquee performance at Carifesta X in Guyana in 2008 where the Orchestra received a prolonged standing ovation for their concert which included wide ranging repertoire. The Guyana Chronicle wrote that “the orchestra made full use of its penchant for moving from muted passages to thundering big moments, very effectively indeed.” In 2010, the NSSO journeyed to Costa Rica to perform as part of the Credomatic XX International Music Festival, where they presented four concerts and received standing ovations at each venue. Four tours followed in 2013 including a gala performance to launch the centenary year of Animé Césaire in Martinique in January, performances at pre-Cropover celebrations in Barbados in July, performances at Carifesta XI in Suriname in August, and performances at the Ninth International Folk Festival in Yichang and Beijing, China in September.
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