Formed in 1978 by Bertrand Parris, a steel pan tuner & manufacturer who provided Glissando with their first instruments and Pedro Burgess, an accomplished musician who was initially responsible for arranging the Orchestra’s music.  Today, Rudy “Twolef” Smith is responsible for the band’s musical arrangements. Chris Cox is their manager with Christine De Gallerie, as captain. Their tuner is still Bertrand Parris.

Glissando Steel Orchestra is a leading light in the Caribbean community in Britain.  The Orchestra is recognised as being talented, innovative and highly professional.  It is also a focal point for the youth, not only as a music resource but also as a place to come together and communicate.  During 1987, Glissando introduced a community action scheme, touring schools and teaching the art of playing the steel pan.  This project was the introduction of steel pan to educational institutions in Britain.  Glissando, in partnership with local schools continue to hold steel pan classes in their pan yard in North Kensington.  They are proud to be the only steel orchestra, which has the first purpose, built sound proofed pan yard in Britain.

1999 saw the inclusion of Danish students in the orchestra for Panorama and Carnival, Glissando has also entertained players from Trinidad, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland and are hoping to continue extending this hospitality to other countries in the future. They were the only steel band to achieve sponsorship from Western Union for the Notting Hill Carnival in 1999. BBC Radio One interviewed some of their younger players and a recording of one of their practice sessions, which was created into a jingle and heard frequently on the Drive Time shows.

Over a five-week period, Glissando was involved in a project entitled the Children of Yaa. The project gave youths between the age of nine and nineteen the opportunity to produce a show at a professional venue. Wil Joseph of the African & Caribbean Music Circuit organised the costume, dance, drama, drumming & storytelling, music and steel band workshops between Glissando’s pan yard, Paddington Arts Centre and Yaa Asantewa Arts & Community centre.  Christine De-Gallerie and Joy Joseph taught pan classes in the Glissando pan yard. The children learnt how to play the steelpan instrument and its history from the beginning to present day culminating in a performance at the Tabernacle, Powis Square, London.

 Later this year the children of the youth band who attend Saturday afternoon classes between 12:30p.m to 02:00 p.m. will put on a concert for their parents and family members. Their ages range from 4 to 15 years. In April 2000, a film crew will be recording two players both on the Bass Pans from Glissando; this will be used in a project involving youths from other countries playing different musical instruments, to the same tune. The four and a half- minute film will be shown during a break at the Eurovision Song contest. Plans are afoot for the two chosen players from Glissando to appear at a show in Stockholm later this year. Glissando have also featured in an hour long Carnival 99 Programme for Songhi Television (Ghana).  This will be aired in Ghana later this year.

Glissando have won many coveted awards including the first GLC Capital Radio Music Festival in 1983 and went on to capture the title for the next two consecutive years, the only band to achieve this distinction. Glissando Steel Orchestra’s Youth Section has toured Switzerland and Ireland. Glissando have performed at the Hawth, Crawley and the South Tyneside Festivals.  Glissando Steel Orchestra breams with talent, innovation and professionalism. Glissando also perform at charity events for pensioners and the disabled.

If you are interested in what this steel orchestra has to offer you can contact the following people: Chris Cox  - 0958 256 978 or Christine De- Gallerie  - 0958 241470. Email them at glissando@panpodium.com or visit their website at http://www.glissando.org.  Please note their Saturday classes are free.

Their pan yard is based at: Venture Community Centre, Wornington Road, London, W10, Tel. # 020 8960 3234.