The Brooklyn-based Carlos Lezama Archives & Caribbean Cultural Center (CLACC-C) on Saturday, Aug. 23, hosted a successful Annual Youth Pan Fest in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
Yolanda Lezama-Clark, the Trinidadian-born daughter of the late Carlos Lezama, after whom the center is named, told Caribbean Life on Monday, Aug. 28, that the festival took place outside the landmark home of the late Caribbean-American Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm and Lezama, the pioneer and co-founder of Brooklyn’s legendary West-Indian Day Carnival.
Lezama-Clark said the Youth Pan Fest, which was free and open to the public, took place, from 12 noon to 8:00 p.m., on St. John’s Place, between Kingston and Brooklyn Avenues, Brooklyn.
“On Saturday, we celebrated our 13th Annual Youth Pan Festival, featuring 12 soloists and eight junior steel band performances,” said Lezama-Clark, CLACC-C’s founder and president, stating that the event was held under the theme, Beats of Tomorrow, Roots of Yesterday.
“I am pleased to say that the event was successful,” she added. “The youths gave outstanding performances, and I know that the steel pan culture is in good hands.
“I’d like to take this moment to congratulate all of the bands for their hard work and dedication,” continued Clark, disclosing that the winning band was Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra.
She said the “vibrant and captivating event” showcased “the rhythm and history of the iconic musical tradition from Trinidad & Tobago
“This family-friendly festival celebrates the talent and creativity of the youth community,” Lezama-Clark added. “Steelpan music has come so far since it began in Trinidad and Tobago. It is now on the world stage, and the young people are leading the way in both preserving and sharing the culture of steel pan.
“We’re excited to offer space for them to showcase their gifts,” she continued.
Lezama-Clark said CLACC-C’s Youth Pan Fest featured a diverse lineup of performances from New York City’s youth ensembles, including Metro Steel, Eruption, P.E.S.O, Harmony Music Makers, Steel Sensation, Pan Alley, Black Love Pantonics, ADLIB and numerous steelpan soloist performances.
She said performers’ ages ranged from 6-21, and that prizes for solo competitors and steel band performers range from $200 to $3,500.
In addition to live performances by renowned youth steel pan ensembles, Lezama-Clark said the festival offered a range of culinary delights, artisanal crafts, family-friendly activities, and free back-to-school supplies.
Established in 2005, the CLACC-C mission is “to educate communities regarding Caribbean heritage,” Lezama-Clark said. “It promotes and preserves West Indian culture and history through the growth of an archive center dedicated to the legacy of Carlos Lezama, the ‘godfather’ of Brooklyn’s annual Caribbean Carnival on Labor Day.”
