A Woman of Gold - Mrs Franka Hills-Headley - Reboot

-

A Woman of Gold

Mrs Franka Hills-Headley

By Dr Jeannine 'J9' Remy, lecturer in music, CCFA, UWI

A When Steel Talks Exclusive


Mrs Franka Hills-Headley


 How did it start?

About 10 years ago, the idea of creating a pan school came out of a mother's concern for the direction pan was taking with the youths; where at that time, there was still that lingering negative stigma attached to the major panyards. When people began to see how she was teaching her daughter Vanessa how to play pan, other parents approached her for giving lessons ...hence the birth of Golden Hands. What began as a mother's dream of teaching her five year old daughter, has now turned into a fully-fledged 65+ membered pan school.

This mother has a lot to be pleased about this year (see list 2). Not only with her Golden Hands venture, but it seems that the early start with her daughter bears golden apples as well. Vanessa, now 17, won the soloist category for the Junior Steelband Music Festival in November 2005; arranged (Destras / Mark Loquan's) Colours Again for Junior Panorama 2006, which took Golden Hands to 3rd place; and her music composition entitled Us, that she submitted for her Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) music course last year, this year brought the astonishing news that she had earned first place in the entire Caribbean.

See complete story

Relevant content:


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A look at the new panyard under construction for Desperadoes Steel Orchestra by Sharmain Baboolal

-
Image
Here is an exclusive look at the TT$14 million panyard for the Desperadoes Steel Orchestra which has been homeless for several years, but which was gifted this piece of real estate at 25 Nelson Street in Port of Spain. When completed it will be the first steelband facility of its kind, anywhere in the world, occupying one and a half acres of land. Take a tour with me below: Under construction new Desperadoes Panyard
Read more

When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to scholar, educator, exceptional musician, music director and champion Panorama arranger James Clarkson

-
Image
James Clarkson   April 21st When Steel Talks extends Birthday Greetings to panist James Clarkson James Clarkson was born in Grenada on 21 April 1943 and has had a distinguished lifelong career in music with early exposure at the age of 12. He later joined the band of the Royal Grenada Police Force, appeared on stage with his father’s band, and by 17 was a member of the band of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force as lead arranger and first trumpet player. By 23 years of age, he was the Director of Music of the band of the Royal Grenada Police Force, and soon became the arranger for the very successful Republic Bank Angel Harps Steel Orchestra , a post he still holds today. The Officers and Ranks of the Royal, Grenada Police Force (R.G.P.F.) take this opportunity to thank Commissioner James Clarkson OBE, QPM, Lmus, F. Sci, for his invaluable contribution to to the R.G.P.F and to wish him a healthy and productive retirement. James Clarkson with daughter Ayana  Panorama Championships Gr
Read more

Black Man Feeling To Party - by Black Stalin

-
Image
‘ Black Man Feeling To Party ’ sung by “Black Stalin”  2023: Tune of choice  |   Renegades Steel Orchestra  -  Trinidad & Tobago Panorama 2023 2023: Tune of choice  |   Harmony Music Makers  -  New York Panorama 2023 2023: Tune of choice  |   Metro Steel Orchestra  -  New York Panorama 2023
Read more

Comfort at One: Steel Pan Artist Kendall K. Williams at Trinity Church Wall Street

-
Image
This summer, instrumentalists from Trinity’s extended family of musicians started performing preludes and postludes for Trinity’s 11:15am Sunday worship services. For today's Comfort at One we present Steel Pan artist Kendall K. Williams who joined the service on July 11, performing arrangements of hymns, plus his own compositions. Relevant content Meet  Kendall Williams 1000 Shades of Kendall Williams - Composer, Arranger, Performing Artist and Educator CrossFire Steel Orchestras - Outta Da Box - Cool Down Mix - Kendall Williams CrossFire Steel Orchestras - Outta Da Box - Tempo Mix - Kendall Williams
Read more

When Steel Talks (WST) extends Happy Birthday greetings to percussionist extraordinaire, educator and panist Juquan Phillip

-
Image
  July 28th When Steel Talks extends Birthday Greetings to panist  Juquan Phillip  Percussionist "Juquan Phillip" and Despers USA knock it out of the park!! Relevant content Despers USA Steel Orchestra - “Iron Love” - (‘Cool Down’ version - Video) - NY Panorama 2019 New York 2018 Panorama Champions Despers USA - Panyard Recording Session of Year For Love - ‘Cool Down’ version... Despers USA - “Different Me” - In Pictures - Panyard Recording BUSS HEAD - Despers USA Steel Orchestra - Tempo Panyard Version NY Panorama 2017 - Video Despers USA Steel Orchestra - “Different Me” - Tempo Version - NY Panorama 2016 - Panyard Recordings
Read more

When Steel Talks extends condolences to tuner Billy Sheeder

-
Image
When Steel Talks extends condolences to tuner Billy Sheeder on the passing of his mother Hilda Ann Sheeder.  Hilda Ann Sheeder Hello family & friends. This morning we laid to rest my wonderful mother, Hilda Ann Sheeder (maiden name Stake), beside my beloved father in Saltilla, Pennsylvania. She was 89 years young. When mom & dad married they birthed two daughters in the ’50’s. In the late ’60’s, my sisters were in a car accident - my surviving sister was badly injured, and my eldest sister - Linda, tragically did not survive the crash. I was born 9 months later. Mom was a piano teacher, waitress, LPN, WV Mountaineer sports fanatic, election official/volunteer, avid bowler, beach seeker, rummy/bridge card club host-queen, and much more. Because of my mom and dad’s sacrifices, I became the first child of our broader family to attend college (WVU), followed by my dear niece and nephew. Mom was the type to forgive and forget, not judge, always gave other people the benefi
Read more

PILLAR VII (Seven Pillars) by Andy Akiho, award-winning composer and percussionist (performed by Sandbox Percussion)

-
Image
Seven Pillars , Sandbox Percussion's album with Andy Akiho, has been nominated for two GRAMMY awards this year - Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance, and Best Contemporary Classical composition! And,  The Arching Path , Christopher Cerrone's beautiful album that features performances by Ian Rosenbaum and several incredible colleagues is also nominated, in the Best Classical Compendium Category. It is quite the honor to be recognized this way, alongside so many other inspiring artists - all of them were out in Las Vegas for the April 3 ceremony, celebrating... Music by Andy Akiho Performed by Sandbox Percussion ----- Terry Sweeney, Jonny Allen, Ian David Rosenbaum, Victor Caccese, Andy Akiho - and one other Terry Sweeney; Victor Caccese; Ian David Rosenbaum; Jonny Allen
Read more