birdsong's primary mission is to the promotion and development of the national musical instrument. In pursuit of this mission, we have consistently taken the leadership in structuring approaches to meeting the musical, technical and organizational challenges that must be addressed as we seek to position the steel band movement in the global musical landscape.

HISTORY
birdsong Steel Orchestra was formally launched on 22 September, 1973 at the University of the West Indies (UWI). The band was the creation of students and employees of the campus who saw the need for greater integration of the University with the community. With support from fellow steel orchestras the band acquired instruments, and further, was able to benefit from the musical talents and skills that abound in the steelband community. It was this, together with our own efforts, that made it possible for us, only after five (5) months in existence, to compete in our first National Panorama Competition - February 1974 - in addition to playing pan and Mas on the road at Carnival of that year.

The band has since made tremendous strides in a number of areas, developing into a full-fledged community band with its own pan theatre situated on leased premises in the Tunapuna area. In terms of players, it has grown from an original stage side of thirty-eight (38) to a carnival side of one hundred and twenty (120). Three members of the original stage side are today still functioning in the band.

ORGANISATION AND STRUCTURE

The band is comprised of a solid corps of active playing and non-playing members from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. These include public servants, graduate professionals (lawyers, accountants, economists, teachers) small businessmen, University academic and non-academic staff and students as well as skilled tradesmen and youth from surrounding communities. From inception, the female membership has been well represented. Their invaluable contributions are well recognised and they have been given important responsibilities in the administration and the direction of the band. At present, the "stage-side" consists of twenty-five (25) members while the Panorama/Carnival "road-side" averages one hundred (100). A large body of supporters can always be relied upon for tangible contributions as the need arises.

birdsong is an unsponsored, self-financing steel orchestra. Over the years, band projects have been able to raise a significant percentage of the funds needed for its maintenance. Projects have included raffles, bingos, barbecues, sale of advertising space, public fetes and steelband concerts and the operation of a canteen. Timely contributions from Government and the generosity of the business community supplement shortfalls in the budget. The band has also provided from time to time specialised services for a fee. These include equipment rental, DJ services and the promotion of cultural shows highlighting the talents of local artistes for visitors to the country.

ACHIEVEMENTS
In the thirty-four (34) years of its existence the band has had reasonable success and has made bold steps towards achieving its goal of being the number one steel orchestra in Trinidad and Tobago.

These achievements include the following:

• J'ouvert 'Bomb' Competition
  First place on four (4) occasions', Second place twice (2); and Third place once (1).
• Panorama Competition
  
  • East Zone Finalist ---------- 1975-1987, 1991-1994, 2000
  • National Semi-Finalist ---- 1975-1987, 1992, 1997, 2000
  • National Finalist ------------ 1984.
• CDC/NCC Competition
  Third best playing band on the road (1978) Best playing band in Tunapuna Carnival celebrations for the years 1987-1989 inclusive.
• Music Festivals
  
  • First place in OWTU's 40th Anniversary Steelband Festival (1977)
  • 1980 Steelband Music Festival - placed fifth in overall standing,
  • 1980 Steelband Music Festival - Joint winners of the Test Piece,
  • 1982 Steelband Music Festival - placed sixth,
  • 1984 Steelband Music Festival - Finalist,
  • 1992 Steelband Music Festival - Semi finalist.

In addition to the above, other noteworthy achievements include:

• Organised "PAN FOR THE PEOPLE", a programme of steelband tours to remote areas of the country (1975).
• Hosting of CRESCENDO - An Experience in Pan Music - involving choir, poetry, piano, trumpet and voices, December 1979.
• Experimentation with steelband acoustics through the introduction of the following:
  • Acoustic covers for Carnival stands
  • Extended Bass pans
  • Amplification of pans.
• Annual DAY OF SPORTS for children of Tunapuna and Curepe.
• Organised Music classes for stage side members of the band. We are currently conducting a Pan School on Saturday mornings for children of the Tunapuna community between the ages 5 - 12 years.
• Organised inter-band sports days, fete-matches since 1975, with fellow steelbands, viz: Pamberi and Scherzando.
• Construction of Pan Theatre on leased premises in 1987. Contribution of Pan Theatre for community activities free of charge.
• Regular participation in community activities.
• Sponsorship of football and basketball competitions for youth in Tunapuna and surrounding areas.
• Promotion since 1991 of an annual cruise to the St. Vincent Carnival celebrations. The band has also toured extensively in the Caribbean, including Barbados, St. Vincent and Grenada. Click Here for details.
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  birdsong Steel Orchestra TOURS
  

  • 1974 - Inter-Campus Games, Cave Hill, Barbados.
  • 1982 - Grenada Carnival.
  • 1991 - St. Vincent Carnival
  • 1992 - St. Vincent Carnival
  • 1993 - St. Vincent Carnival
  • 1993 - Apure, Venezuela
  • 1994 - Caracas, Venezuela
  • 1995 - Tucupita, Venezuela

  
  
• Successful collaboration with the St. Augustine Senior Comprehensive School Steel Orchestra since 1983, and other secondary schools. Click Here for details.
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  SCHOOL STEELBAND PROJECTS
  In an attempt to promote the playing of pan among the youth and to contribute to the development of pan in schools, birdsong undertook as a special project in 1983, the establishment of a school steelband at St. Augustine Senior Comprehensive School. This project has been an overwhelming success, has been mutually beneficial and clearly one of the more rewarding activities undertaken by birdsong. The founding leader of the school steelband is to-day the resident arranger of birdsong and a former captain. He has now developed into a full-fledged arranger having arranged the music for one of the participating steelbands at the recently concluded World Steelband Music Festival.

  The St. Augustine Senior Comprehensive Secondary School through the influence, coaching and direction of birdsong membership has won the Junior Panorama competition and is the reigning champion steelband of the 1993 School Steelband Music Festival. Dozens of pannists in several popular steelbands in North and East, including Amoco Renegades, Phase II, Exodus, Moods, Pamberi (to name a few) began the art of playing pan in the school band and later in birdsong steel orchestra.

  Between 1992 and 1995 birdsong conducted annual steelband workshops as part of the nursing curriculum at NIHERST. The band is currently engaged in steelband programmes at Tunapuna Government Secondary School and Toco Composite School.

• A trip to London by 10 birdsong members to participate in a series of steelband development workshops with the youth of the North Kensington community in August 2000. Click Here for details.
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  TRIP TO LONDON
  The band was invited by the Venture Community Association to run a series of steel band workshops during its summer programme of activities. The Venture Community Association is an umbrella Non Government Organization which coordinates a range of community development activities in the North Kensington area of London. The target group of the association's activities is multi-cultural with a very strong Caribbean element (approximately 19%). Steel pan education is an important element of the Association's summer programme of activities. The steelband programme is under the musical direction of Rudy Smith, a native of Trinidad & Tobago, currently domiciled in Denmark who is also birdsong's arranger.

  The main objective of the project was to build meaningful cultural relationships between the youth of London and Trinidad & Tobago. The intention was to build on the seminal work done by the early steelband pioneers in Europe and North America by focusing on the youth and presenting them with a structured programme covering all aspects of the steelband development: the history, art and science of instrument manufacture, the sociology, employment potential, arranging and the techniques of pan playing.

• Collaboration with three other Steel Orchestras - Exodus, Solo Harmonies and Sound Specialists - to produce a history- making Mass Band entitled "United Forces" on the road Carnival Tuesday, 1993. This was the first time more than two steel organizations have gotten together to produce one Mass Band. Member band of Allied Pan Forces. A grouping of four (4) steelbands interested in the revival of steelband mas for the past three carnivals.
• Netball/Basketball/Small-goal Football Tournament for the Tunapuna Community.
• Performed at the inauguration of Iron and Steel Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (ISCOTT) and Fertilizers of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (FERTRIN).