Caribbean Beat — January/February 2017 (#143)

courtesy codrington family
The siblings are not the only ones to have tasted success at
Panorama, however, as their father Cary has the distinction of
being the only arranger to take the Birdsong Steel Orchestra to
a national Panorama final.
As the Desperadoes Youth Orchestra wraps up its rehearsal,
we conclude by discussing the Codrington family’s plans for the
next two years. Khari mentions that his ensemble will continue
to be “the first point of interaction with the steelpan,” for the
thousands of visitors entering Trinidad for Carnival through the
port facilities on Wrightson Road. “It’s not just about giving a
performance,” he says, “but creating a memorable experience
as the mecca of steelpan.”
Beyond Carnival, the group is also focused on releasing
original steelpan compositions for consideration by the local
and international film industry. Kareem and Kaijah will continue
to supply steelpans to various orchestras regionally, while
Khari and Keisha will delve deeper into creating exclusive
recording opportunities for live instruments — with the steelpan
remaining at the heart of their ambitions.
Find out more about the Codrington Pan Family via
their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/cpanfamily
52 WWW.CARIBBEAN-BEAT.COM