US Scholarship for Young Pan Player

8/10/2004

Pan Trinbago was instrumental in setting up a scholarship for a pan player at The University of Akron, Ohio, USA. The lucky recipient Keron Valentine, 20, is a past student of Fatima College and Musical Director/ In-house Arranger of the Angostura Woodbrook Playboyz Steel Orchestra. He began playing pan at the age of seven under Len Boogsie Sharpe and has played with Trinidad Pan Symphony, Woodbrook Modernaires, Petrotrin Phase 11 Pan Groove and Kool & The Gang Steel Orchestras. The scholarship, a Business Administration degree program in the area of International Business was facilitated though Dr. Larry Snider, Director of Percussion Studies at the University of Akron. It should be noted that the degree is a four-year very esteemed program that, without scholarship, would cost a student about $18,000.US per year plus housing. The criteria for selection was based on several factors, the foremost being the person needs to be a scholar and a pan player who has experienced playing pan in Trinidad & Tobago. The formal presentation to Mr. Valentine by Patrick Arnold, President, Pan Trinbago, was held at The Auditorium, House of Angostura, Eastern Main Road, Laventille, on Tuesday 10th August 2004 at 10:00 am. Angela A. Fox Media/Communications Pantrinbago