Budding Pannist graduate from Tobago programme

Caption:Top Scorers of the 2014 Republic Bank RightStart Pan Minors Music Literacy Programme, pose for a photo, with Republic Bank’s General Manager, Internal Audit, Anthony Subero ( on left) and facilitators, Anthony Moore and Merle Beckles-Benjamin, at Tuesday’s graduation ceremony held at Rovanel’s Resort, Tobago. The top scorers are ( left to right) Scarborough RC School student Amaiya Ottley, Sandeera Lewis and Stevyann Solomon, both from Bishop’s High School.

Tobago, Rovanel’s Resort, Thursday August 7, 2014: The sweet sounds of the national instrument echoed through the Conference Centre of the Rovanel’s Resort, Bon Accord, Tobago, on August 5, 2014, as over 40 students delivered spectacular renditions on the steel pan, as they graduated from the 17th annual Republic Bank RightStart Pan Minors Music Literacy Programme.

The three week class room sessions, which took place at the Bethel Credit Union, Bethel, were aimed at teaching the participants the fundamentals of reading and writing music.

Delivering the remarks on behalf of the Bank, General Manager, Internal Audit, Anthony Suber, commended the young pannist for the sacrifices made and their determination to better their skills on the instrument.

“Today we celebrate you for your achievements. Every time you hold those pan sticks and produce that beautiful sound, you are not just entertaining the listener, you are in fact, awakening and growing your minds,” he said.

Subero added that Republic Bank looks forward to hearing about their progress, whether in the field of music, or any other endeavour they choose to undertake. The students who participated in the programme which commenced on July 14, 2014, were awarded with certificates of participation.

The programme’s coordinator, Anthony Moore, for Tobago, congratulated the bank on the programme’s growing success, saying that the three week programme has been a positive influence in the lives of the participants, who have passed through the programme since its inception in 1997.

“The participants had an enjoyable and hardworking three weeks. Their hard work and dedication paid off as today we will see students graduating with certification of merits and distinctions,” he said. He didn’t fail to mention that two students who graduated from the programme last year, went on to further degrees in music at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.

Scarborough RC School student Amaiya Ottley, was awarded top performer in the Level One category (Primary) having received 93.5 per cent. While Sandeera Lewis and Stevyann Solomon, both from Bishop’s High School received 98.9 percent and 99.6 per cent in their respective categories (Level I and Level II- Secondary).

The students were all aged from 10-17 years old.

A mainstay of Republic Bank’s corporate social responsibility initiative- Power To Make a Difference- the Pan Minors Programme was introduced in Tobago in 1997. The programme’s format enabled the students to have 30 hours of formal training. Fifteen hours was spent in music theory integrated with aural training and fifteen hours devoted to music reading, writing and technical skills.

Republic Bank congratulates all the young graduates who graduated from the programme and wish them all the best in their musical endeavours.