TT marchilng steelband takes military world by storm

Manager and Musical Director of the band, Warrant Officer 2, Robert Tobitt, said the event is like a military tattoo. Other countries expected to take part are Scotland and Switzerland. For the first time a steelband will be providing music for the changing of the guards in Canada.

“During the tattoo period they allow three international bands to provide music for the changing of the guards to add a little variety to the whole festival, but it is not normal that any other bands provide music for the changing of the guards other than their own military traditional bands, so we are fortunate to have the steel orchestra provide that music,” said Tobitt, who revealed that the local band will be doing soca music but at the correct standard marching rate their hosts are accustomed to. The Canada visit will be the first major venture for the band since the Fifth Summit of the Americas last April where they were part of a segment with Ken “Professor” Philmore and David Rudder during the gala opening ceremony.

Later this year the band goes to Nigeria to take part in a Military Panorama Competition. Already lined up for 2010 are invitations to go to Australia in February, the Netherlands later and tentatively South Korea. Tobitt said: “We are also looking at a long-term relationship with Nigeria in terms of training their military personnel in playing, arranging and tuning so that they can be self sufficient. That would mean local officers going to Nigeria for a period of approximately three to six months to work with them.”

The Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra was formed in June 1995, took part in the National Pan Ramajay Competition the same year and placed fifth out of ten finalists. They next entered the “Pan Is Beautiful” Music Festival as a conventional band and placed third overall in addition to winning the prize for best calypso.

There was no stopping these pan playing soldiers as in 1997 the band entered the National Panorama competition for traditional steel orchestras, and placed first. In June of that year they were invited by the 33rd Regiment French Forces in the Antilles to perform at their first anniversary celebrations in Martinique. They were again invited to that event in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

“As a result of the bands’ outstanding performance they were invited to perform at the internationally acclaimed Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 1997,” said Tobitt.

The orchestra became the only marching military steel orchestra in the world, performing nightly for an audience of over 10,000. The band also became the first steel orchestra to lead an armed contingent of troops on a ceremonial parade, when on it’s return from Scotland, it made it’s first appearance on the annual Independence Anniversary Parade.”

The band’s management team includes Major Roger Best (Officer In Charge), Sergeant Junior Stevenson (Senior NCO in charge of Orchestra) and Cpl Frederick Dennie ( Logistic Officer).