Candice Falconer – Steelpan Music in Meh Blood!

Sep 28

Sep 28 Candice Falconer – Steelpan Music in Meh Blood!

Panpodium continues their initiative to highlight the youth in steelpan as the continuity of the artform lies with the youth.

Meet Candice Falconer who started playing music from 2002 at the age of nine. The first musical instrument she played was double bass but she confessed that the steelpan was her first official musical instrument and stated, ‘Pan is where my heart was.’

In 1999, Candice was first introduced to the steelpan at a Summer Club she attended. At the time it was called, “St Michael’s Arts Programme” and was held annually. Candice had a burning desire to play the steelpan and in 2002, her friend and her plucked up enough courage to ask the teacher, Alfred ‘Freddy’ Toutesaut, if they could learn in time for the summer concert. Candice fondly remembers playing in her school steelband under the tutorship of the late Mr. Randolph Baptiste.

When Candice was asked, what made you want to start playing pans? She replied, ‘I fell in love with the way it sounded as individual pans and as a collective and at age nine it looked like fun.’ That fun she has enjoyed since that time and professed that the fun and love of music that the instrument provides will continue for a very long time to come.

The first steelband that Candice played for was St Michael and All Angels Steel Orchestra. She has also played with Contrast Steel Orchestra when she attended University in Leicester. She has not had the joy of playing at the UK National Steelband Panorama competition as yet and is hoping that 2021 will change that. However, since 2009, she has participated in the London Notting Hill Carnival, “Best Conventional Steel Band on the Road competition” with St Michael and All Angels Steel Orchestra. In 2016, they won the “Best Conventional Steel Band on the Road” competition and in 2017, they retained the title as well as won the new “Best Youth Steelband on the Road” competition.

Her dream steelband to play for is BP Renegades Steel Orchestra, Candice said, ‘I could listen to them play all day.’ When asked about her experiences in these competitions and how it assisted in her musical journey she replied, ‘I have learned a thing or two from our arrangers over the years and through their love and passion of musical arrangements my musical taste has grown. T I must say that I will not be arranging anytime soon. I have immense appreciation and respect for those who do arrange. I hope to build confidence to arrange but for now I am a happy player putting my stamp on the music as I continue to learn and grow.’

Candice said that the most challenging thing she has done with pans was to teach players, especially when there is an array of abilities, starting points and styles of learning. Finding what works for the individual and collective can also be quite challenging.

Her most inspirational moment in her musical life was when their steelband won their first trophy in a competition. Collecting the trophy at the annual British Association of Steelbands (BAS) Awards in 2016 despite the adversity our steel orchestra was facing, it was a phenomenal feeling.

Candice has many roles in St Michael and All Angels Steel Orchestra. She said that she is a person with many hats. She is the lead tenor player, pan tutor/assistant and driver for the band. She is also the graphic designer responsible for the band’s social media and website with the assistance of their volunteers. She stated, ‘I am here for the team to ensure that the get the assistance they need and to help us achieve the goals we set out individually and collectively.’

When asked, what are the important qualities/skills that an individual must possess to perform the role that you do in a steelband? She replied, ‘you need great organisational and creative skills, coupled with lots of patience, especially when it comes to teaching/cascading music. Being a good team player to effectively contribute to achieve our goals. You also need to be supportive and encourage others to persevere when they are struggling, working through the music with them to build up their confidence and ability.’

Double seconds is her favourite pan but she mainly plays tenor. She started learning on the double seconds but gravitated towards the tenor and it’s been her main instrument ever since. She loves the bass as well and is hoping to learn to play the tenor bass which she believes will soon be her favourite pan to play. Candice is also a singer – a musician with boundless talents.

Candice revealed that her inspirations for both pans and music, steelpan-wise would be Alfred ‘Freddy’ Totesaut, Patrick McKay and the emerging young arranger, Dylan Mitchell. All three have inspired her musically and have challenged her too, broadening her musical repertoire from soca to calypso, samba and classical. There are also many other arrangers to numerous the name.

Candice being congratulated by Prince Harry

She hopes to see and support the continued growth of St Michael and All Angels Steel Orchestra as we go from strength to strength. Her musical aspirations see her wanting to form my own steel orchestra. She would love be more versatile and be able to play any pan within the orchestra confidently. She said with confidence that she will continue to practice and inspire/encourage the younger generation to play steel pan as well as arrange or become a soloist.

Candice said, ‘I would like pan to be as popular, recognised and respected within society as other traditional instruments. The work being done by the many within the steel pan community as we gain further exposure will assist in its further global recognition. We are all ambassadors for the instrument so let us continue to do what we are doing and in so doing educate our global audiences on how versatile and regal the steelpan can be.’ She continued, ‘We need the continual push on exposure. We are in a digital era where we have the world at our fingertips, producing quality content and deliverance of the instrument and its music, demonstrating the versatility the instrument by playing music from other genres respectfully paying homage that will gain a wider cultural respect and global presence.’

A young musician with an insatiable appetite for steelpan music. Panpodium wishes her all the best for the future and applauds her efforts to support other young people like herself in the artform.