Siobhan Mitchell - Self-Disciplined, Determined and Open Minded!
Siobhan was first introduced to the steelpan at her local church BBQ and remembers being asked by Alfred ‘Freddy’ Totesaut if she wanted to have a go on the tenor, hesitant at first but as soon as those sticks were placed in her hands, the pan jumbie took over and she has not stopped playing her beloved steelpan ever since.
Before Siobhan started playing the steelpan, piano was her first love along with the flute. She did graded ABRSM examinations with both instruments, learning theory and sight-reading. Even though, she played the piano and flute, Siobhan wanted to play something that deviated from the social norm. Something simply unique! Pan was the answer! Hearing the sweet tremolos and warm tones it gives when played and being able to feel free whilst playing the steelpan. She just wanted to play an instrument that was part of her culture.
Siobhan started playing the steelpan at the tender age of the 8 on an Invaders style tenor, which she played for 10 years and in 2016, moved on to the 4th/5ths tenor when she joined Ebony Steelband. The first steelband she played with was St Michaels and All Angels Steelband in 2006. She clearly remembers her first steelpan competition when she performed at the 2016 Pan Clash hosted by The Steelpan Trust.
Siobhan with Debi Gardner performing at Pan Clash
Siobhan has fond memories of playing, ‘Far from Finished, with Ebony Steelband in her first UK National Panorama competition in 2017. She said, ‘It was such an unforgettable experience!’ She said that one day given the opportunity she would like to play with BP Renegades, Silver Stars, Trinidad All Stars, Desperadoes and Pamberi, to name a few of the many steelbands she would love to play with to continue her musical development.
She has performed at the Pan Clash competitions from 2016 to 2019 and won her first British Association of Steelbands (BAS) Pan Explosion competition in 2018 with Ebony Steelband. She has played at the BAS/CAPCA UK Junior Panorama competitions from 2017 to 2019. Siobhan has also played at the National UK Panorama, Notting Hill Best Conventional Steelband on the Road and most recently the International Girl Power Diamonds competition.
Siobhan has travelled on tour to Abu Dhabi and Italy and would love to travel to more countries performing and promoting the steelpan in the near future. She revealed that the most challenging thing for her was trying to remember notes for the ‘Bomb Tune’ on Jouvert morning whilst running on no sleep after performing at the UK National Steelband Panorama the night before.
Siobhan performing at Ebony Steelband Trust’s Blockorama.
When questioned about her inspiration, Siobhan replied, ‘having the opportunity to meet and perform with Yolanda Brown on her Yolanda Band Jam series on CBeebies. Appearing on Blue Peter, explaining the history of the steelpan on CBBC to a wider audience and to play with the legendary Billy Ocean in the Royal Albert Hall in November 2018. That was the most amazing experience!’
She is a member of the Ebony Steelband stage side, travelling up and down the UK performing at gigs, meeting new people and most important of all being an Ambassador for the instrument. During the Panorama season she was given the responsibility to learn and cascade music within the tenor section.
Siobhan believes that the important qualities/skills that an individual must possess to play a steelpan are
· To have self-discipline and to be willing to adapt to any situation.
· To be open minded when learning a new repertoire
· Have the determination to be the best that you possibly can be as an individual.
· Most importantly practise!!
· Be yourself.
When asked, ‘what do you think is special about playing the steelpan and also playing in a steelband? Siobhan replied, ‘the fact that the steelpan is able to play any genre of music and how versatile the instrument can be.The happiness, the excitement that it brings to people’s faces, the curiosity individuals have wanting to know more about the pan and the unity it brings no matter where it’s being played.’ Her favourite steelpan instruments are both the Invaders and 4th/5th tenor pans however, if she was to play another pan it would be the double seconds or quads.
Siobhan Performing with Ebony Steelband at the UK National Panorama Competition.
Alfred ‘Freddy’ Totesaut is her main Inspiration as he was the first ever person to introduce her to the steelpan, taught her a wide range of music including classical pieces such as Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty, Strauss-Voices of Spring, Skaters Waltz by E. Waldteuful and Mozart Symphony #29 1st Movement. She also looks up to Delphina James, Douglas Dallaway, Samuel Dubois, Duvone Stewart and Liam Teague. And pianists Isata Kanneh-Mason, Alicia Keys, Khatia Buniatishvili and Ludovico Einaudi.
When asked that music is a profession do you think that the steelpan provides a platform to progress your professional music profession? Siobhan replied, ‘Yes I truly believe that the steelpan provides a platform to express myself especially through soloing, exploring different genres of music and growing more confidently as a musician. So far the steelpan has allowed me to collaborate with Rappers, Singers and being able to go to professional recording studios to record an album (Pan Machine Kraftwerk).
She would like to see the steelpan respected and valued as an instrument, and to be on the same level as if it were a classical instrument. She said, ‘If a triangle can be respected, there’s no excuse for the steelpan.’Siobhan would like to see the steelpan play a greater part in the National School Curriculum and merge with mainstream instruments. She would love to see National Steelband Panorama live-streamed on National TV in the UK.
Siobhan performing at Pan Clash
Siobhan would like to see steelpan performances on a regular basis in prestigious venues all across the Globe e.g. Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, and Royal Festival Hall. She stated that it would be great to see steelpan appearing regularly on BBC, ITV or even hearing pan on different streaming services such as Spotify, BBC sounds or even podcasts.
Her musical aspirations for the future is to become a world-class musician, touring the world not only playing the steelpan but sharing her music with different audiences around the world on the piano and flute as well.
She believes that more collaboration with different artists from all over the Globe; be more versatile with the music. Appearing on platforms such as ‘Colors’, or NPR and having individuals appearing on Ted Talks UK about the steelpan for the steelpan instrument and its culture to be more widely recognised on all musical platforms. Most important of all, there needs to be more social cohesion within the steelpan community in order to progress, move forward and take pan to countries where it’s never been before.
Siobhan playing at the BAS/CAPCA UK Junior Panorama Competition.
In closing Siobhan stated, ‘to me, music is an outlet to express my inner soul; it is an escape from the outside world. As an aspiring musician, I truly believe that music is a language of its own and being able to share my passion for music with the world through the steelpan is truly beautiful, mind blowing and magical!’
