Culture Days 2013 is HERE!

Culture Days, a 3 day celebration of culture with over 800 cities participating across the country. Now in it's 4th year, Culture Days has becoming of the must attend festivities within the city.

For a second year I had the opportunity to organize and present free workshops to the community, showcasing the history and development of the steelpan. Students from High Park Day School and Garden School were invited to High Park Library and had a fun time learning and getting the opportunity to try the instruments. 

This is a great experience and I wholeheartedly encourage all to get involved, especially if you have something to contribute to the community. Culture Days has a great website with tons of info to help you get started. Think about it for Culture Days 2014...

 

Sounds of Freedom

The Toronto Community Advisory Board in conjunction with Canada's Democracy Week presented "Sounds of Freedom".  The focus of this event was to rally awareness of our democratic rights and responsibilities as well as highlighting music's role in revolutions around the world.

I had the opportunity to perform with award winning Juno artist Korexion and participate in an interactive game that focused on teaching the participants about Democracy Week.

Rainy Wedding Afternoon...

Weddings are a joyous and blessed event when family and friends come together to celebrate 2 people joining in a sacred union. The date has been set for the picture perfect outdoor wedding and then... it rains. Not only rains but pours. What now? You wait to see if the rain will let up. The guests are indoors anticipating the ceremony, outside the chairs are drenched and you would think this would be enough to drive any bride to be to pieces.

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Not at this wedding. Guests came out with umbrellas and a smile and welcomed the bride to be down the aisle as she elegantly walked through the rain as if it were blessings from above. Minutes later as the happy couple exchanged their vows, the clouds literally parted and the sun shone down on them. 

"And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton

Culture Days: Steelpan With Suzette

Culture Days, a 3 day cross Canada celebration is quickly approaching. Artists and organizations all across the country will be offering workshops to their communities for FREE! I too have decided to hold not 1 but 4 workshops this year. Hope you can make it out to at least one event.  

Click on the image to be taken to the Culture Days website for more information. 

Impact Steel Orchestra

What a wonderful summer I have been having, performing around the city at different events and keeping busy. One way that really matters is when I get the opportunity to teach people about the illustrious instrument, the steelpan. I, along with Andre Rouse, Artistic Director of Souls of Steel, have had the pleasure of teaching the Steelpan to youth who are a part of Impact 'n Communities. They are a "registered not for profit, social service, community development and engagement organization that is steadily working to improve communities across the GTA."

We've been with them for the past 4 weeks and have been having a blast teaching them about the history and development of pan. The students have also see footage of steelbands and soloists from around the world.

I'll keep you up to date and let you know when "Impact Steel Orchestra" will be performing.

 

Largest Steelpan

I came across a video on youtube entitled "Palm Beach Steel Drums 46 inch Pan".

The company Reel Ting created this massively big steelpan dubbed the "Terminator".  As well it has been submitted the Guiness World Records for being the largest steeldrum.

The record has been held by Jomo Wahtuse
"The largest steelpan is the elliptical "Jomoline" which measures 104 cm (3 ft 4 in) wide and 84 cm (2 ft 9 in) tall. It was created by Jomo Wahtuse (Trinidad and Tobago) and presented and measured in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on 12 November 2010.
The instrument has 30 segmented chambered notes and has a tonal range from D-5 to G-3. The width of its skirt is 18 cm (7 in)."  Guiness World Records
 
I have never seen anything like this but I do know that I want one. Take a look at the video and let me know what you think. Cheers!

Culture Days @ the Library Presents: Suzette Vidale

Culture Days @ the Library Presents: Suzette Vidale Steelpan Artist & Educator This video is the second installment of a four part series featuring Toronto artists participating in the Culture Days @ the Library program.

Culture Days @ the Library Presents: Suzette Vidale
Steelpan Artist & Educator

This video is the second installment of a four part series featuring Toronto artists participating in the Culture Days @ the Library program. Presented by Toronto Public Library, the Neighbourhood Arts Network and Ontario Culture Days, Culture Days @ the Library offers artists an opportunity to take their practice out of their private studios and into the accessible spaces of library branches so that the public can discover and engage with their work.

Suzette Vidale is a returning Culture Days @ the Library artist, who will be presenting "Steelpan with Suzette" on Friday, September 27, 2013 at the High Park Library and Saturday, September 28, 2013 at the Parliament Street Library. More information on her activities can be found on the Culture Days website: http://ow.ly/odsPz

- See more at: http://culturedays.ca/blog/2013/08/23/culture-days-the-library-presents-suzette-vidale/#sthash.gnsYvVaj.dpuf

 

Happy 20th Anniversary Pilaros Taste of the Danforth!

This year I had the honour of playing for the Pilaros Taste of the Danforth. I had such an enjoyable time playing outside of Castries Barber Salon. A 30 + year shop that it well known for impromptu musical performances. The crowd enjoyed the music and even joined us with singing some of the songs.

Click the see enlarged photo.

Culture Days Connections

Greetings everyone!

Hope all is well. It has been a little while since I have said hello and just wanted to update you on my progress with Culture Days.

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In my last newsletter I mentioned taking my workshop, "Steelpan With Suzette", to the next level. This idea stemmed from an attendee, while attending the first National Congress on Culture, who mentioned the importance of being aware of ensuring that our workshops are accessible to all. Last year, I made sure the location of my workshop was wheelchair accessible. However, I left the conference thinking about her statement.

I had been recently thinking about my grandmother who had passed when I was about 9 years old.
She was a woman with a loving spirit who had become progressively blind due to glaucoma. She never had the opportunity to see or hear about my love for the steelpan since I took it up as a teenager.

I thought about what it would have been like for me to play for her and even get her to play.

A few days after the conference I said to myself, "I would like to give a steelpan workshop for the visually impaired and blind".

My grandmother Elouise "Mammie Loy" and myself at age 8. Outside Sanderson Library , location of 2012 Culture Days workshop "Steelpan With Suzette"  

My grandmother Elouise "Mammie Loy" and myself at age 8.

Outside Sanderson Library , location of 2012 Culture Days workshop "Steelpan With Suzette"

 

I had never done this type of workshop and connected with Catherine McLeod, Ontario Culture Days Interim Manager. Having previously been involved in art accessibility projects, she was able to give me some valuable advice and suggestions towards making this a reality.

I also put forth the idea to the Parliament Street Library who invited me to do a workshop for Culture Days. Branch manager Barry Gray was very supportive of my proposed workshop.

I know I have a lot of work ahead of me and I'm sure there are challenges I haven't envisioned but I am confident. Just knowing that I can connect and share my gift is a joy.

I really would like to reiterate the words that were told to us while sitting in the audience at the conference that day (paraphrased), “those that will be presenting an activity for Culture Days to consider making your workshop accessible to allow everyone to be able to participate”. At the end of the day, isn't that what it's all about?

Suzette

"Communities that include everyone become stronger and everyone wins."
Jane Imbody

 

World Under 23 Ultimate Championships 2013

I had the honour of performing for the closing ceremonies of the WFDF (World Flying Disc Federation) World Under 23 Ultimate Championships 2013 at York University. There were athletes representing from Canada, US, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, and Germany.  I had  a great time watching the finals between Canada and the US and hadn't realized how exciting the games are.

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Click images to view them larger

Tuesday Night Jam Session

Met with some fellow Toronto musicians for a jam session. Learning a lot from these greats, so honoured. Can't wait for the next one on Friday July 26 at Castries Barber Salon, 852 Pape Ave 7-9pm (free) for their monthly Talent Night.

Back row: Cecil, Carl, Frank, Ian Front row: Suzette & Sharon

Back row: Cecil, Carl, Frank, Ian

Front row: Suzette & Sharon

Another Blissful Wedding

Every month since February I have been performing for weddings. Now that it's summer time, it's peak wedding season. I have been having a wonderful journey of meeting people of all cultures and learning about their traditions. The music, attire, food and customs all give me a glimpse into the uniqueness of what makes us all special. I look forward to continuing on this journey of discovery and surprise. 

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Canada Day Celebrations in Toronto

I had a FANTASTIC time going all around the city and seeing how people celebrated Canada Day.

Places visited: Queen's Park, Pan Fantasy's Pan Yard (Downsview), Dundas Square and Harbourfront

Click photos to view

Muhtadi's International Drum Festival

Every year Muhtadi Thomas celebrates his birthday with the world. For the past 14 years he has held an international drum festival showcasing drum performances from different cultures.   

I was lucky to participate and experience the joy of drumming years ago with Afropan Steelband when the festival was originally situated at Queen's Park. This was my first time attending at Woobine Park in The Beaches since their move to 2012.

As usual, it was a great 2 day event with 2 stages of performances, and a drum circle anyone could join. A variety of food is always accessible and multiple vendors selling their wares.

 

International Culture Bazaar

Here is a photo of the musicians and singers that participated in last month's International Culture Bazaar's Talent Showcase. I had ball and was proud and pleased with the children & youth that participated. They did a FANTASTIC job.

Tonight we meet again to support the local talent at Castries Barber Salon, 852 Pape Avenue. Free showcase 7-10pm

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