Local steel pan teacher recognised in New Year’s Honours List
Tottenham resident Christopher Storey has been uniting the local community through music, finds Olivia Opara
A Tottenham steel pan teacher has received a British Empire Medal for his services to steel pan music and his work in the local community.
Christopher Storey grew up in Tottenham and has been playing steel pans since he was aged seven. Supported by the Haringey Music Service, Christopher now teaches steel pan music in schools around Haringey, helping to ensure that people across the borough have access to the instrument. Christopher’s dedication to promoting steel pan music was recognised in the King’s first New Year’s Honours List this year.
“I was shocked to have won this award,” said Chris. “I just love what I do and this title – I want to use it to continue to promote steel pan music and show how we can cherish it.”
He added: “This award is more than just me. This award is for steel pans.”
Aside from this latest honour, Christopher has won numerous competitions and awards. His unique musical arrangement style has garnered the admiration of many, including renowned arranger and pannist Duvone Stewart. Christopher was also awarded The British Association of Steelbands Lifetime Outstanding Achievement award in 2018.
Christopher wants to bring the community together through the common interest of music and create a “haven” for people to create music together, especially in the wake of the Tottenham Riots. “Tottenham gets a bad rep. We are not a group of people that everyone wants to put into a certain box,” said Christopher. “We are more than that.”
He added: “There are so many talented people in Haringey, so many young people with aspirations.”
Christopher founded the Pan Nation Steel Orchestra 13 years ago and it has become one of the leading steel bands in the UK. The steel band acts as a safe space for young people and the wider community to engage in positive activities and develop their musical skills. His weekly classes attract students and fellow pannists from across London and beyond. Pan Nation placed in the top three bands in the 2022 UK Panorama Competition and was voted winner of the People’s Choice Awards in 2019. The steel band is still young and has grown into four mini bands – one major professional band alongside three adult learner bands.They have become the official steel band for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and play live at Spurs’ home matches throughout the football season.
Kerry, 18, was taught steel pans by Christopher during her time at Hornsey School for Girls. She joined Pan Nation in 2019 and plays the double second pan for the main professional band. “The Panorama Competition was one of my best experiences,” said Kerry. “After that, I brought my little brother to join the band.”
Kimarnè, meanwhile, started playing steel pans when he was 17 as part of the Haringey Steel Orchestra. He now plays the four cello pan for Pan Nation’s main professional band and went on to study music at university.
“When I found Christopher and saw how amazing his arrangements were, I wanted to play with him,” said Kimarnè. “I would like to thank Christopher for inspiring me.”
Pan Nation also hosts ‘Blockorama’, a free, live steel pan event showcasing multiple steel bands. The performances are held at Lordship Recreation Ground every summer and as part of the annual winter concert at Gladesmore Community School.
“Steel pans are still not recognised as instruments by western standards,” said Christopher, “but they are musical instruments.”
Steel pan music originates from the town of Arima, Trinidad which was twinned – meaning a long-term partnership between two communities in two countries – with Haringey in 1989. Steel pans have grown in popularity in the UK since they were first played at the Festival of Britain in 1951 and have since become much more widely accepted as a musical and cultural artform.
After receiving his medal, Christopher is now working towards encouraging more young people to take steel pan courses accredited by the PRSSV Institute of Performing Arts and Heritage, the leading examination board in music and dance in the UK. These courses are designed in the hope of getting steel pans on a level playing field with other western instruments within taught musical education.
https://haringeycommunitypress.co.uk/2023/02/17/pan-nation-tottenham-new-year-honours/
Credit Olivia Opara
