T&T MAKES CLEAN SWEEP AT STEELPAN GIRL POWER DIAMONDS
Trinidad and Tobago musicians have won every category in the Republic Bank Steelpan Girl Power Diamonds Competition – the world’s first all-female steelpan contest.
The global finale of the showcase produced by Steelpan Authority Woman and Steelpan Authority Music was held on February 10, on Steelpanauthority.com and SteelpanTV.com and featured contestants in four categories: soloist, duet, trio and quartet.
Keisha Codrington cleared the path for team T&T’s winning ways with her memorable performance in the soloist class. Her scintillating rendition of Andy Narrel’s We Kinda Music, saw the young virtuoso win favour with the panel of expert music adjudicators to amass a total of 290 points. In the process, she beat out six rivals to clinch the honour as the top female steelpan musician in the world.
Codrington’s winning performance earned her an 18-point lead over her closest rival Siobhan Mitchell from the United Kingdom. Mitchell’s performance of Stevie Wonder’s My Cherie Amour earned 272 points. The third spot went to Tyeesha Alexander (from T&T) for her adaptation of On Green Dolphin Street scoring 254 points.
The presentation of prizes is scheduled for April 2, 2021.
Steelpan Girl Power Diamonds premiered in December 2020 and also attracted contestants from Antigua and Barbuda, United States, Canada and the U.S Virgin Islands, all of whom flew their flags proudly before a panel of expert music adjudicators which comprised Alexis Hope, Iman Pascall, Derriane Dyett and Charlton Alphonso.
It is no secret how the on-going pandemic has hurt the entertainment sector globally. Therefore, Steelpan Authority Woman and Steelpan Authority Music responded with a pandemic relief project, where performers earn and the listener and or viewer is entertained.
Performances were streamed on www.steelpanauthority.com, www.steelpantv.com and its YouTube channel.
Throughout the steelpans fraternity’s musical history, men have primarily been in the forefront, despite there being female musicians of equal stature. This showcase aimed to address the issue of equity and equality on the steelpan landscape, while giving superb female pannists the spotlight that they deserve.
FULL CATEGORY RESULTS BELOW:
SOLOIST RESULTS:
Place/Name Score Country
1 Keisha Codrington 290 T&T
2 Siobhan Mitchell 272 United Kingdom
3 Tyeesha Alexander 254 T&T
4 Jenny Gilberg 250 United Kingdom
5 Trenyce Sweeney 247 Canada
6 Rhia Toppin 213 T&T
6 Jolene Durrant 213 United Kingdom
DUET RESULTS
Place/Name Score Country
1 Keisha Codrington/Kizzi Codrington 280 T&T
2 Bryan Martin/Jonelle Hodge 221 (US Virgin Islands)
3 D’Avion Durrant/Jolene Durrant 220 United Kingdom
4 Miriyam Wilson/Fatima Wilson 219 Canada
TRIO RESULTS
Place/Name Score Country
1 Tyeesha Alexander /Opal Murrell, 271 T&T
Keisha Codrington
2 Jolene Durrant/Carlene Etienne. 247 United Kingdom
Siobhan Mitchell
QUARTET RESULTS
Place/Name Score Country
1 Tyeesha Alexander/Opal Murrel Keisha Codrington/Megan-Leigh Langton Attang. 275. T&T
2 Takeya Henry/Nafatarie Issac Kaitlyn King/Rachael Henry 249. Antigua/Barbuda
3 Isoke Noel/Kimberli St.Clair Richelle Seenath/Anaika Portel. 246 T&T
4 Sannie Henry/Jhalana Frederick Kiania Simon/Camara Henry. 243 Antigua/Barbuda
