Released on = May 4, 2006, 11:22 am

Press Release Author = When Steel Talks

Industry = Education

Press Release Summary = Dominica - The first OECS Junior Pan Competition gets two
thumbs up. You should make plans to attend next year\'s event immediately. You will
not be disappointed.

Press Release Body = Indeed, while there has a been a mercuric rise in the
popularity of the steelpan instrument and music globally, the OECS Junior
Competition firmly establishes an educational and performance outlet in the region
for educators, students and other cultural organizations to compare agendas,
directives and goals. Moreover, the coming together of all these organizations and
key qualified persons, provided the opportunity for comparison and formation of new
strategies for the instrument\'s development and marketing, and steelpan music
educational methodologies.

Each country brought its unique experiences and wealth of knowledge to the event.
The musical arrangements and performance techniques highlighted the similarities, as
well as the subtle but well-defined musical differences between the islands of the
Caribbean. This competition was an ethnomusicologist\'s dream. The history and
culture of each island was skillfully interwoven in the test piece arrangement and
performance by each band. Indian, French, English, Portuguese and Spanish
influences could be heard distinctly between the common African music and rhythms
that bind the islands together.

This was truly one of those events where any OECS member orchestra who had an
opportunity to enter and perform at this competition, and did not - lost out
considerably. A win, win, win situation - a win for the organizers, a win for the
performers and a win for the audience.

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Dominica Steelband Association
Anna Raffoul
dominipan@hotmail.com
www.Dominica.panonthenet.com
1-(767)448-2622

Web Site = http://www.dominica.panonthenet.com

Contact Details = Dominica Steelband Association
Anna Raffoul
dominipan@hotmail.com
www.Dominica.panonthenet.com
1-(767)448-2622