BAS Outstanding Achievement Award - Lynette Yearwood Levy
Even as a child, growing up as member of a band, the recipient of this year’s Outstanding Achievement Award recognised how important it is to be involved in a community organisation, and for that organisation to be involved in its community.
Following the death of her grandfather, Biggs Yearwood, in 2007 she decided she wanted to continue the good work and the great legacy which he and his good friend, Raymond Joseph, had created. Despite the challenges, she kept going and, in 2012, officially took over management and renamed the band Pantonic Steel Orchestra - The Next Generation.
Her outstanding leadership, and continuous search for new ways in which Pantonic can get involved in, and make lasting changes to, Hackney’s community is endless. She never sways away from the root of band’s foundation - which is to make positive changes in the lives of young people, and to direct them into doing things which are constructive and productive. Her work through the band changes lives and creates positive role models, allowing many young people to have successful careers in producing, arranging, performing and teaching music.
Working closely with local councils, other voluntary groups and businesses, she has built strong relationships throughout the community. Her involvement, dedication, and contribution to local events such as Hackney Carnival ensures steel pan music is always prominent in the area.
As well as working with children and adults with special education needs, offering workshops, taster days, and international and BHM day events, she was the driving force behind a project with X-Factor Winner James Arthur and pop band Rudimental. The band performed at the V-Festival to a live audience of 250,000 people. Their performance was also seen by thousands more via MTVs live stream and subsequent on-line recordings, exposing steel pan to diverse new audiences.
Despite working over 40hrs per week, she dedicates all her spare time to nurturing beginners, manging rehearsals and arranging music for the band.
Band members adore her energy and skills, and her commitment and love of the instrument is contagious. In presenting this award, BAS also recognises the outstanding contribution Pantonic Steel Orchestra made to the 2019 Pan Clash Explosion event, which reflected all the positive values this recipient brings to the band and to those around her.
The recipient of the 2019 Outstanding Achievement Award is Lynette Yearwood.
