North Tyneside Steelband Charity no. 1059729
Albert Hall Schools’ Proms 2003, Music For Youth Festival 2003, 2004, 2005
National Youth Arts Festival 2000, 2002, (Millennium) Dome Performers of the Year 2000, National Steelband Festival 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995
Bookings: Karina Atkinson 0798 685 6783, karinaatkinson@hotmail.com
Musical Dir: Dave Edwards 0775 360 4281 dave@steelbandsnorth.org.uk
Sec: Debra Betham 0191 252 9853 iain.betham@hotmail.com
PRESS RELEASE - 1 June 08 Amazing victory for young north east pannist
Jenny Gilberg, aged 21, entered this summers national Pan Explosion Steelpan competition for the first time…… and won the solo section outright! Not only did she win, but she won by the highest margin in the history of the competition, over 60 points out of a possible 300! Jenny represented North Tyneside Steelband at the event organised by the British Association of Steelbands and held this year at the Fairfield Halls Croydon on May 31. The competition celebrates the achievement of steelpan players aged 30 or under, and kickstarts the summer season for the UK’s steelpan players. In the whole nine year history of Pan Explosion, winners have always been from in or around London.
Jenny is 21 and just about to enter the last year of a fine arts degree at Newcastle University. She has also been teaching steelpan professionally for about 7 years and currently teaches young players at Chantry Middle and King Edward V1 High schools in Morpeth, the Rocket Panners at Stephenson Memorial Primary in Wallsend and at North Tyneside Steelband in Wallsend where she also arranges with great success. Jenny was quite nervous beforehand but had dedicated a lot of time to practicing her entry - a classic arrangement of Scott Joplins’ ‘Maple Leaf Rag’ which she adapted for solo pan. She was also dreading the long journey down to Croydon which the London players don’t have to contend with, before the competition. Listening to her rehearsing last week it was obvious that her entry was really something special; it really demonstrated the capabilities of the player and instrument to the full and was a worthy winner. Jenny said ‘I know it’s all about taking part, but I want to do well to put the north east on the pan map and bring us some recognition.’ She certainly succeeded there! Jenny plans to be back in London in August playing (along with a few other NTSB and other n.e. players) in one of the large 80 strong steelbands competing in the Notting Hill Champions of Steel Panorama.
Steelpan is the newest musical instrument in the world, developed in Trinidad in the 1930’s; it only came up to the north east for the first time in 1989 when North Tyneside Steeland was formed, but is extremely popular in London and other large UK cities with sizeable Caribbean communities. The pan is made in several voices from bass up to high tenor and is capable of playing anything that a symphony orchestra, rock group or big band can play, from calypso to classics.
Some local events that Jenny will be performing with NTSB this month –
Saturday 7th June Wedding Ripley Castle Harrogate 1pm
Saturday 7th June Wedding Beamish Hall 7pm
Saturday 14th June York Yacht Club 75th Anniversary
Sunday 15th June Great Women’s Run Sunderland
Thursday 19th June Ladies Night Catterick Garrison 7pm
Saturday 21st June Briar Dene Summer Fayre 12-1.30pm
Saturday 21st June Shiremoor Centre Summer Fair 2-4pm
Sunday 22nd June Darras Hall School Ponteland Summer Fayre
Friday 27th June Travel Event Wild Childs Durham (eve)
She will be helping them to launch their new CD ‘bring a smile to your ears’ on Friday evening 4th July at Wallsend Memorial Hall; this is a free event but tickets are needed – book one at 0775 360 4281 or dave@steelbandsnorth.org.uk.
Photo opportunity
Wed 4th June, 6.30-8pm at
The Langdale Centre, Langdale Gardens, Howdon, Wallsend.
Please ring to confirm.0775 360 4281
MORE INFO/PICS FROM DAVE EDWARDS
dave@steelbandsnorth.org.uk
Members of and/or supported by The British Association of Steelbands
Chair: Lesley Darling, Secretary: Debra Betham, Treasurer: Mike Gilberg, Committee: Karina Atkinson, David Beasley, Carol Brown, Jenny Gilberg, Sue Higginbottom, Ewan Mood, Lauren Stead, Mandy Watters
North Tyneside Steelband is a registered educational charity promoting tuition, rehearsal and performance opportunities for young people and others on steelpan and related instruments. We run weekly beginners, intermediate, adult and performance sessions in Wallsend, supported by North Tyneside Council, and have 4 outreach facilities across the north east enabling a total of over 300 players to access steelband activities
Chair: Lesley Darling, Secretary: Debra Betham, Treasurer: Mike Gilberg, Committee: Karina Atkinson, David Beasley, Carol Brown, Jenny Gilberg, Sue Higginbottom, Ewan Mood, Lauren Stead, Mandy Watters
North Tyneside Steelband is a registered educational charity promoting tuition, rehearsal and performance opportunities for young people and others on steelpan and related instruments. We run weekly beginners, intermediate, adult and performance sessions in Wallsend, supported by North Tyneside Council, and have 4 outreach facilities across the north east enabling a total of over 300 players to access steelband activities