Young musicians head to States
Although many of the crimes reported on this newscast are committed by young people, the vast majority of Belize’s youths are doing positive things, like the group I visited this afternoon.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
They are a group of committed young musicians, who have come a long way since their band, The Grace Pantasticks was formed in 1995. Today, although the boys and girls are on their summer holiday, they have been rehearsing for their first international show scheduled for the end of this month in Nashville, Tennessee.
Gloria Edwards, Principal, Grace Primary School
“Oh, some people from Nashville were here last year. They were really impressed with the children and so they invited us to visit. This year, it was set up as an exchange. Some of their musicians would come and then we would go. They were hoping for funding from Coca-Cola, but after that fell through, they had to raise funds on their own. So only five of their musicians were able to come and they were here in June and they really enjoyed themselves. Now it is our turn to go and we are doing the same thing, raising funds to get there.”
One way the band is trying to raise funds is by holding a concert. The show takes place at the House of Culture this Friday night.
Jacqueline Woods
“So what should the public expect Friday night?
Hershell Armstrong, 17 years old
“You are putting me on the spot. It’s the Pantasticks in concert. This is our first concert I think in Belize and the crowd can look forward to a lot. They can come out and see the Grace Pantasticks as they have never seen them before. We are going to have dancing, a lot of crowd participation and its really going to have a lot of energy.”
Seventeen-year old Hershell Armstrong is one of the band’s original musicians. Armstrong says today they are not only playing soca, calypso and Punta songs, but they have been including some old time and jazz notes as well.
Hershell Armstrong
“Well it has come a long way. When we started, the first band actually had three songs, I think that’s total. Now this band has about forty songs in its repertoire so I would say the band has really come a long way, going on trips out of the country which we would not have dreamt of when we were in the band.”
Jacqueline Woods
“The first international concert will take place at the end of this month how are you looking forward to that?”
Hershel Armstrong
“We are very excited about it, can’t wait to go and we really hope that it comes off.”
Gloria Edwards, Principal of Grace Primary School says she has been impressed with the children’s performance and how far the band has progressed.
Gloria Edwards
“The children needed a new challenge, they had exhausted recorders, guitars and keyboards, percussion and then I always wanted to have a steel band. I try to get one, but due to financial constraints, we weren’t able to purchase the instruments. So the Old Stars were very kind and they allowed my children to go and use their instruments and we started in 1995.”
Presently there are twenty-five band members. The children are between the ages of eleven and seventeen.
Khale Arzu, 11 years old
“I think it is great, it’s fun, exciting.”
Jacqueline Woods
“What instrument do you play?”
Khale Arzu
“The first pan, the tenor pan.”
Jacqueline Woods
“Was it difficult to learn?”
Khale Arzu
“Yes, the first time.”
Jacqueline Woods
“Tell me how do go about learning that instrument.”
Khale Arzu
“Well you have to practice everyday and try your best to get the notes and play everyday. Everyday you get a different song and then you have to learn it.”
Kendra Buller, 14 years old
“Well this band is fun, we learn a lot everyday, we get to learn about the pans and about music on a whole and it is just fun being with members of this band.”
If you are interested in attending Friday night’s concert, the show gets underway at the House of Culture from seven p.m. Tickets can be purchased either at the Grace Primary school on Amara Avenue or at the concert venue for five dollars adults and three dollars for children.
