The Ansa McAl company has added music to the ears of members of the Parkside Steel Orchestra, with the company announcing a three-year partnership with the popular steel band.
With a return of the Panorama competition for Mashramani celebrations, Managing Director of Ansa McAl (Guyana) Troy Cadagon said the company believes it is the opportune time to showcase its continued support for the arts and culture in Guyana.
Before handing over an initial sponsorship cheque of $1 million, Mr. Cadagon said that as a steel pan enthusiast, he has seen the growth and development of the Parkside Steel Orchestra over the years, and wants to be part of that growth and development.
“I have always drifted to the Parkside Band because of their youthful enthusiasm and so on, and they have been outdone by the Police and other bands, and I thought maybe it is because they were not well taken care of. So, in terms of the partnership, it was only natural that we gravitated towards Parkside”, Cadogan said.
He also explained that the band will be given maximum exposure by his company as the various brands that fall under the Ansa McAl umbrella will use the band for promotional events.
The Chairperson of the Parkside Steel Orchestra, Kelisha Edwards said the band is pleased with the support and partnership that have been extended from the Ansa McAl company. It was noted that the band had its genesis in the efforts of a group of musicians to not only preserve the art form of the steel pan but to get youths involved and keep them interested in steel pan playing.
The band is 25-years-old.
Ms. Edwards said “though the players over the 25 years have changed, the band’s core values remain the same, leadership, musical literacy, excellence in music and performance, integrity, public and personal responsibility, personal development, respect for members of the community and a shared vision to become the best steel band in Guyana”.
The Chairperson also noted that the band’s vision has been realised as the Parkside Steel Orchestra has won the national panorama competition ten times.
The band will now be known as the Ansa McAl Parkside Steel Orchestra.
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