The authentic Caribbean is made up of all
of the world's peoples - African, Asian, European, Mid Eastern and the
native Amerindian. They form an ethnic montage that has composed a
distinctive cultural personality. Their rhythms are unique as seen in their
performing arts - music and dance; they stimulate your sensibilities with
the writings of their writers and the paintings of their painters; and they
nourish you with their cosmopolitan food. These characteristics, and an
early socialization in multicultural, multiracial countries have allowed
West Indian immigrants, for example, to assimilate seamlessly into Boston.
They have an almost instinctual knowledge of how to live in a city such as
contemporary Boston. [Ron/eCaroh 2003]
Boston Carnival
2011
A First for Boston Carnival – CACAB
Hosts Canadian Youth Steelband KYSO from Brampton, Ontario
“One of the best youth steel bands out of Canada
today”
Kendrum Youth Steel Orchestra (KYSO) was formed
in 2006 under the leadership of Kenton Wyatt, a Guyana-born
music educator in the Toronto School District. “Projecting the
mindset of being a disciplined crowd pleaser” with a commitment
to the presentation of steel pan artistry, KYSO is widely
recognized as one of Canada’s most versatile youth steelpan
ensembles. Its sound-staging and amplification of the steelpans
are exemplary.
KYSO, an energizing 14-member stage side band
has earned invited performance spots across North American
cities from Brampton, Toronto to Brooklyn, New York. In 2011, it
is visiting Boston for performances as guests at the Caribbean
American Carnival Association’s King and Queen Costume Show,
August 25th and at the street parade’s viewing stand on August
27th. A breakfast hour performance at Boston City Hall on
August, 26th is also planned.
KYSO will also be conducting community concerts
in the Greater Boston after the Carnival events on August 29th
and August 30th. These presentations will be as guests in the
neighborhoods of their steelpan music contemporaries in Lynn –
Crystal Panjammers, Dorchester –
Pan Xpressions and Mattapan/Roxbury –
Branches Pan Groove.
Please support these initiatives through the
Guyana Friends Association of Massachusetts, Inc.; a 501(C) 3
organization. Your generous contribution is tax deductable and
will help to cover hotel and meals expenses for the players and
their chaperones.
Make a donation using your credit card
or Paypal account:
or mail a check to:
Guyana Friends Association of Massachusetts, Inc.
4 WABASH ROAD, PO BOX 5 WILMINGTON, MA 01887
All of the band’s appearances articulate its
mission: to provide music education opportunity for community
youth and prepare them for success through music. There is an
emphasis on imparting respect for cultural diversity. KYSO
expresses the musical interests of its young musicians who
proudly perform the indigenous Caribbean calypso, reggae and
soca. A typical concert repertoire also includes classical and
Afro-Cuban renditions.
All musicians and chaperones are of Caribbean
heritage: Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Kenton Wyatt is the musical director and arranger. Twelve of
KYSO’s members play pan and at least one other instrument of the
traditional symphony instrument family.
• Kashka Wyatt plays the lead Soprano Pan, Tenor
Bass, Guitar Pan and the Recorder
• Nalina Armoogam plays the lead Soprano Pan and the Violin
• Chantel Angel McKnight plays the lead Soprano Pan, the Piano,
the Clarinet and the Alto Saxophone
• Shayelle Miller plays the Alto Pan and the Piano
• Travis Winston Thomas plays the Drums, the Double Second Pan
and Piano
• Kamara Wyatt plays the Six Bass Pans and the Clarinet
• Rasheidah Buckle is the baby of the band and plays the lead
Soprano Pan and the Recorder
• Kandia McKenzie plays the Alto Pan
• Jimon Greaves plays the Guitar Pan, the Piano, and the
Recorder
• Cemarcia McKenzie plays the Guitar Pan and the Trumpet
• Jermaine Greaves plays the Four Bass Pans and African drums
• Megan Rye Dwarika plays the lead Soprano, the Piano, the
Classical Guitar and the Violin
• Tatiana Charles plays the lead Soprano Pan and the Piano
• Khalleal Gladston plays percussion.
Posted August 7, 2011 – Ronald H. Lammy
KYSO in Brooklyn |
KYSO in Brooklyn |
KYSO in Brooklyn |
KYSO in Brooklyn |
KYSO in Brooklyn |
KYSO
Panyard Computer |
KYSO
Panyard Practice |
KYSO
Panyard Practice |
KYSO
Panyard Practice |
KYSO
Tutor and Student |
Boston’s Caribbean
American Carnival 2011
Theme: Embrace diversity and empower our individuality … recognize our
similarities and celebrate our differences
EVENTS CALENDAR
ECUMENICAL SERVICE, Sunday August 14, 2011, Charles Street A.M.E. Church, 4:00pm -7:00pm
Reverend Dr. Gregory Groover hosts this spiritual service at the Charles
Street A.M.E. Church, which is located on the parade route, Warren Street,
Boston. We take this opportunity to give thanks for the spiritual guidance
and the many blessings given to us over 37 years. We are so grateful and
blessed to have achieved success in its many forms. During this event, we
will acknowledge God’s abundant PEACE and GRACE and ask for His guidance to
sustain CACAB for many years to come.
KIDDIES CARNIVAL, Sunday August 21, 2011, White Stadium, 12:00pm -7:00pm
This feature of the carnival highlights our young children in colorful
costumes displaying their various talents. The event is an annual
competition [in] which winners are chosen and recognized in each category -
King, Queen, Individual Male and Female and the Band of the Year. Each child
participating has the opportunity for self-expression, confidence [in the]
performing arts.
KING AND QUEEN OF CARNIVAL, Thursday August 25, 2011, Reggie Lewis Center, 6:00pm-1:00am
This contest is a major component of carnival, as judge’s travel from
Trinidad and Tobago to preside over this great event. Competitors compete in
the King, Queen, Individual Male and Female categories. The costumes, costly
and intricate in design, are judged not only on visual impact, presentation,
spirit of carnival, craftsmanship, but also on the portrayal of the 2011
theme.
BREAKFAST AT THE PLAZA, Friday August 26, 2011, Boston City Hall, City Hall Plaza, 9:00am-11:00am
A group of City Councilors for the city of Boston- Councilor John Connolly,
Councilor Charles Yancey and Councilor Ayanna Presley in collaboration with
the Caribbean American Carnival Association of Boston host a meet and greet
breakfast the day before [the street parade]. The idea for this event is for
city officials to show their appreciation to the organizers, volunteers,
judges and official guests … for all the hard work they have done and
continue to do in preparation for Carnival Day. This effort is to show
[that] their diligence has not gone unnoticed.
J’OUVERT, Saturday August 27, 2011, Morton Street and Blue Hill Avenue Intersection, 5:30am-10:00am
J’Ouvert means the breaking of the dawn. It is an early morning pre-carnival
parade beginning at 5:30am in the heart of Boston. Many people from
different backgrounds and cultures from the community of Boston and beyond
meet at the intersection of Morton Street and Blue Hill Avenue. Everyone
marches up Blue Hill Avenue dancing and singing to the soca, calypso, and
steel band music wearing self-made costumes of all types. The J’Ouvert
bandleaders are exceptionally creative. J’Ouvert is really an experience to
see and be a part of.
CARNIVAL DAY, Saturday August 27, 2011, Franklin Park, 1:00pm-6:00pm
Carnival Day begins with much anticipation. Hundreds of thousands of
individuals from the [local] community, across the US and overseas come to
celebrate this grand event with family and friends. The parade begins at
Martin Luther King Boulevard in Roxbury, off Warren Street. The bands and
their masqueraders adorn the street with spectacular colors and sounds that
signal the arrival of carnival. The parade proceeds along Warren Street
through Grove Hall then on to Dorchester’s Franklin Park with followers in
tow. Spectators line the streets to witness the enormous spectacle as it
unfolds. Children and adults dance the street all day long. You will observe
happiness and excitement. Nearly one million people comprised of diversity
engage in the day’s festivities, singing and dancing and having a great
time.
Published by CACAB
Contact: PRO – Ms. Carol Leggett – 857.869.8773 Vice President: Carl Smith – 617.834.9614
President: Shirley Shillingford - 617.442.7083 / 617.642.5185
CACAB Office: 317 Blue Hill Ave, Roxbury, MA 02121
About Boston Carnival
2009 King of Carnival Contestant
King of Carnival &
Queen of Carnival contest is a major component of Carnival. The
costumes, costly and intricate in design, are judged not only on their
visual presentation but also on the on-stage performance exhibited by
the masqueraders. |
2009 Queen of Carnival Contestant |
Kiddies' Carnival highlights our young children in colorful
costumes of various themes. This is a competitive event in which winners
are chosen and recognized each year.
Steelband Panorama is the competition of steel pan musicians
playing popular calypsos. In recent years, there has been no panorama in
Boston.
Listen to the last Panorama Champions: Branches Pan Groove Steel
Orchestra of Boston.
J'Ouvert begins Carnival day with the
daybreak celebration - "Breaking of the Day" during which participants
don home-made costumes and act out various portrayals.
The Carnival Parade begins on Martin Luther King Blvd. in
Roxbury, where bands and their masqueraders come to the streets with
spectacular colors and sounds that signal the arrival of CARNIVAL. The
parade proceeds along Warren Street, through Grove Hall and on to
Dorchester's Franklin Park.
Carnival Costume Parade |