It is a sad reflection on state of steel pan in Britain at the moment that, whilst there are probably more people playing the instrument than ever before throughout the country, almost all the top orchestras are still concentrated within London.  Why great cities such as Birmingham, Bristol and Manchester cannot put together a band of sufficient size and quality to challenge for Panorama remains a mystery, but at least the city of Leeds is now prepared to do something about it.

Renowned for having one of the oldest-established Caribbean carnivals in the UK, it has been forgotten that for many years Leeds also boasted a top steel band – New World.  Throughout the 1980s they were a regular feature across the city and around the country, with dozens of local teenagers passing through their training programmes.  Sadly, in the 1990s they seemed to run out of steam and eventually the decision was taken to pack away the pans and close the band down.

Pan did not die in Leeds however.  On the contrary, through the work of tutors such as Dudley Nesbitt and Melvyn Zakers backed by a supportive city council and Leeds College of Music, a new generation of young players was introduced to the instrument.  Also, the successful rise of North Stars just up the road in Huddersfield gave added incentive for Leeds to want to get its act together.

Eventually it was Leeds’s very own ‘Mr Carnival’ Arthur France who said enough was enough – it was time for New World Steel Orchestra to be ‘born again’.  He firstly called upon the advice of that giant of the international carnival scene Geraldine Connor (of Carnival Messiah fame) who is a Leeds resident and together they set out a new vision.  By 2010, Leeds would have a 50-strong steel orchestra of international standing run by local young people.  The foundation of the vision would be a Steel Pan Programme comprising year-round music training and personal development for youngsters between 5 and 19 in the city.  A management committee was formed and an ambitious 100-page Proposal was drawn up.  The committee has set itself the challenge of raising over £90,000 over coming months to support teaching and re-equipping with new pans.

The grand plan was revealed and launched at a glittering event in Leeds Civic Hall in April.  The Lord Mayor opened an evening of music and speeches for a packed audience of local and international pan lovers.  Former players such as ace-bassist Gayle Parmel gave impassioned accounts of how important pan had been in their earlier years, helping to form them as individuals and as artists.  Pepe Francis, representing BAS, welcomed the initiative and said he looked forward to seeing New World Steel Orchestra back on the steel band circuit.  Guests of honour were Pan Trinbago Vice-President Keith Byer and Secretary Richard Forteau (over in the UK to discuss the forthcoming world championships).  They said how impressed they were with the quality and quantity of steel pan music now being played in the UK and wished New World every success with their re-launch.  There were musical interludes during the evening with a virtuoso duet from Nesbitt and Zakers, whilst North Stars Steel Orchestra set the standard that the new New World will now be aspiring to match.

Every one in the UK pan scene should be pleased to see the return of an old band and should wish New World the very best of luck.

Phil Wood