Akinola sennon

About akinola sennon

I think it rained the day I was born. Or perhaps the sun shone brilliantly. I am sure though that it was May 2nd 1984, and that day was a great day. The third child to Mr Andrew Sennon and Mrs Valerie Sennon, my childhood years were spent in Quinam Road, Siparia, Trinidad- a village of with a rich cultural heritage.

In 1991, at the age of seven I started attending the Joseph School of the Arts where I learnt to play the cuatro and studied the theory of music. I then moved on to playing two other instruments, the guitar and the piano at the said music school in Siparia, under the tutelage of Mr Ashford Joseph. By age ten, I was arranging musical compositions for my siblings and I to perform at our school concerts and recitals, as we all attended the same school.

I was introduced to the steelpan in standard three by Mr Roland „Moose‟ Joseph and at that point, I fell deeply in love with the instrument. During this time, I also played the guitar with the school and church choir. Miss Valdez, our school choir Mistress, was a great influence in developing my musical ability. Mr Joseph nurtured my talent during that early period by taking us to many competitions and exposing us to the steelpan fraternity.

In 1996, I joined Siparia Deltones for the Panorama season and later became a member of the stage side. There I met Mr Carlton „Zanda‟ Alexander. I vividly remember him asking me one day, “Young man, do you know your scales?” to which I replied “Yes.” It was then that he noticed by musical potential. That moment sparked the beginning of a 17 year and counting relationship. I have been his understudy since then.

I was inducted as a member of the Coal Pot band which was led by Mr Zanda. This band was basically a Kaiso/ Jazz fusion ensemble with horns, vocals, piano, bass guitar and steelpan. We performed extensively at all the leading jazz and fusion shows throughout the country, including the world-renowned Tobago Jazz Festival, the San Fernando Jazz Festival, Sanch Apri Carnival, Siparia Jazz Festival, Point Fortin Jazz and many more. At age 18, I also began playing with Clive Alexander, Zanda‟s older brother, which has significantly contributed to my overall development, especially our weekly performances at the Satchmos Jazz club on Ariapita Avenue for a number of months.

In 2003, I became the captain of Siparia Deltones‟ junior band and later went on to becoming the captain of the senior band. I worked with the National Steel Symphony Orchestra for one year and the Pan in the Classroom Unit. I taught music at Forest Reserve Anglican School, Fyzabad Presbyterian School, Iere High school, Palo Seco Government School and Trinidad Renaissance Preparatory School.

In 2009, I played the role of the musical director for steel pan promotion in Canada, where, alongside Siparia Deltones, did workshops throughout the country. As an arranger, I have composed for the Southern Marines Steelband Foundation placing 3rd in the Small Band Category of the Panorama competition of 2010. I have won the Primary School category of the Sanfest Competition for five consecutive years from 2010; three times with Forest Reserve Anglican School and twice with Trinidad Renaissance Preparatory School of which I am their musical director. I have also won the Pan for Blue Competition with Forest Reserve Anglican School in 2013.

I am presently the executive director and musical director of Siparia Deltones, where our mandate is to international promotion of the steelpan. I am also fitted with the task of designing the band's syllabus and course structure. In 2013 we recorded an album with musical legend Hugh Masekela where I assumed the role of project coordinator and steel pan soloist.

I was privileged to participate in the Amsterdam Conservatorium Van Summer Jazz Workshop 2015, where I was the first pannist to be accepted to be part of this prestige workshop. I continue to work in the area of steel pan development, arranging and music education.

The influences to my life are countable. The lives I aspire to influence are countless. Through music and more so the steel pan, we are taking that which seems ordinary and common placed to transform and reshape ideas, perceptions of truth and the future.

-Akinola Sennon