Ralph Richardson is very proud of and full at heart of his youth steel band Steel Magic. Founded in 1988, it is one of a few youth steel bands in the whole of Switzerland. The players’ ages range between 10 and 20 years old and owing to his unique style of teaching they are able to meet his high and ambitious expectations.
The youth band is hired for different events such as steel band festivals, schoolhouse parties, welcome parties for new migrated inhabitants, cultural festivals like Zurich-Fäscht and Integration Africa Freedom. They also assist Sternschnuppe, an organisation that helps terminally ill children. Steel Magic’s performance is always admired and enjoyed by their audiences.  They have produced a CD entitled Touch of Class, in co-operation with the different groups of players trained by Ralph Richardson.

It is a natural way of life for the youngsters of Steel Magic to join an adult steel band when they are grown up. Therefore it is not uncommon to find these high trained former Steel Magic players in different Swiss steel bands. They also suffer from players leaving the country to learn a foreign language or to finish their education. As a result the number of players changes yearly, sometimes “the whole band” leaves. In spite of this Ralph has never lost his energy to start anew. Presently Steel Magic has 8 young promising players who are all playing pan for at least five years. Most of them are recruited from weekly workshops or projects at schools that are also part of Ralph’s activities.

The Swiss government supports music lessons for children in trumpet, clarinet, saxophone, violin, piano, drums, etc. Unfortunately, steel pan is still not accepted as a musical instrument by them. The high costs of lessons, new instruments, tuning, accommodation and transport are paid for by parents and rarely by sponsors. They have made a strong proposal to the government to recognise and financially support the steel pan as Steel Magic players as well as all the other young players are the future of Switzerland. Pan Podium recognises their efforts and achievements and strongly supports them in their quest.

by Steel Magic.