UK NATIONAL STEELBAND PANORAMA 2019 ROUNDUP - METRONOMES STEEL ORCHESTRA

Aug 7

Aug 7 UK NATIONAL STEELBAND PANORAMA 2019 ROUNDUP - METRONOMES STEEL ORCHESTRA

Metronomes Steel Orchestra (MSO) was formed in 1973 by Phil Dubique and Irvine Corridan. This community-based steelband is an established UK steelpan icon and has contributed to this wonderful art form for more than thirty years.

MSO is currently managed by Eversley ‘Breeze’ Mills – Vice Chairman of BAS (British Association of Steelbands). He has injected a new vibrancy into the band, which comprises of men and women, young and old whose talent and dedication to developing their own individual skills is outstanding. These players are constantly extending their expertise and developing in-depth knowledge of the evolution of this musical instrument called the steelpan.

Metronomes play an important role in the local Caribbean community. It brings families together, helping to reduce social isolation especially amongst the elderly and single parents. It is especially good at involving young people – and especially young men – not involved in education and at risk of joining gangs and taking part in crime and anti-social behaviour.

More than 75% of young people who attend Metronomes go on to university: it has helped produce a generation of architects, athletes and doctors. However, it is resolutely focused on involving all young people, including those struggling in life. Metronomes leave no one behind.

Their project – Inclusive Pan is engaging some of the most disenfranchised young people within Metronomes. We are working intensively with 8 young people who have experience of the criminal justice system and struggle to engage with learning and employment.

They have had several major achievements, i.e. appearance in ‘Songs of Praise’, the opening of the Channel Tunnel, winners of the UK Steel Band Music Festival in 1976, BAS Pan Explosion winners in 2000 and 2001, Notting Hill Carnival ‘On the Road Competition’ twice. We have also completed many worldwide tours and in 2005 performed in Leipzig, Germany on an invitation from the Trinidad & Tobago High Commission.

Metronomes UK National Steelband Panorama results since its inception in 1978 are:

Winners: 1979, 1981, 1982 – joint winners with Mangrove Steelband and 1984.

Runners Up: 1978, 1983, 1988, 1992, 1993, 2013, 2014 and 2017.

Metronomes

This year, Metronomes Panorama band will be made up of one hundred players.

Manager: Eversley ‘Breeze’ Mills

Arranger: Leroy Clarke

Captain: Vivian Miller

Tuner: Toussaint Clarke/Grafton Yearwood

Tune of Choice: So Long by Nadia Batson.

View Metronomes 2018 UK National Steelband Panorama performance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLRLereHjX8