Good evening fellow toastmasters and guests.

The steelpan is the only acoustic musical instrument invented in the 20th century. The steelpan of today came into being after World War II when oil drums proved to be the perfect replacement for the dustbin covers that had been used in the earlier part of the 20th century to supplement the Tamboo Bamboo bands in Trinidad. What do these bits of trivia have to do with us right now? Not a whole lot, I admit. Except that today I wanted to share a bit of myself with you. And rather than spend the next few minutes talking just about myself, I thought I would take this opportunity to also introduce you to one of my passions in life – the steelpan.

Now the pan and I obviously have very different origins - I was born to a pair of young Jamaican doctors who were living and working in Scotland in the 1970s, by which time ‘pan’ had already established itself as an major part of Trinidadian culture. I was not actually introduced to pan until the mid-1990s when I joined the steelband on the UWI campus. I have continued to play with the UWI Panoridim Steel Orchestra since 1995. I have played several different pans in that time and served in various posts, including a term as captain which just ended in August. In these 9 years, pan has been my life, so much so that even when I went to the US to further my studies I made sure to join another band in Miami. Nearly a decade has passed since we were introduced, the pan and I; and my life has become irreversibly intertwined with this beautiful instrument. So much so that I believe there are several similarities between us, which I hope will help you understand us both.

Although the steelpan is most easily identified with calypso music, it is an extremely versatile instrument with an amazing sound that is capable of doing justice to any type of music - from a pan soloist playing jazz improvisations to a hundred-piece orchestra playing a symphony. Most people who cross my path will only know me in one context, but I too am comfortable in a variety of settings. I am at home whether being the sporty tom-girl or the glamorous diva. I’ve been described as nerdy and brainy and yet also as a slightly crazy party girl. Time spent alone reading is as enjoyable to me as time with my friends. Place me in a foreign country, in a new family, speaking a different language and I make it my home. This adaptability has helped me adjust whether I was living at home with my parents, living with an antagonistic roommate or living with another family.

That last example brings me to my next point. The steelpan, though born in Trinidad, has travelled far and wide. It is now well-loved all over the world and can be found in such far-flung places as the United States, Japan, Germany and Switzerland. In my case, I do not consider my home to be my birthplace but instead the place I was raised since the age of one and a half – Jamaica. From here, I too have travelled – though not yet to all the places I would like – and have found myself at home in places like Trinidad, Miami (where I lived for 2 years) and Belgium. My year in Belgium was filled with challenges as I experienced life and went to school in a French-speaking country. It also allowed me to visit other European countries such as Luxembourg, Germany and France.

Some instruments are relatively difficult to learn to play. The steelpan is not, but like most instruments it is difficult to master. Though one could grasp the basic techniques required to become a competent pannist in a matter of months, it takes many years to fully understand the intricate complexities essential to reaching the level of an accomplished soloist. Those people who have made the effort to get to know me have quickly realized they face a similar challenge. I am easy to get along with once they recognize some basic principles like honesty and giving me space when necessary, but reconciling the deeper facets of my personality with their perceptions, or understanding some of my values, for example, my extensive application of the idea of freedom of choice are often difficult.

The beauty of the pan is unquestioned – both its usually chromed exterior with its sinuous curves as well as the purity of the sounds from a well-tuned pan. I present myself to you as a beautiful package both inside and out. And like the pan, that beauty is based on internal strength, which was in turn formed from a combination of love and hardship. In order to create its beautiful resonance, a pan must be sunk with a sledgehammer, grooved with a chisel, burnt in a fire and then tuned with a hammer. But all of this is done with loving hands and ears. My character has also been shaped by the challenges I have faced in my life – experiences at home and abroad – all of which I got through with the love and support of my friends and family.

If at this point you are intrigued and interested in learning more then I have successfully illustrated another common characteristic of both my subjects, which is their tendency to become addictive. Who can resist the hypnotic mix of strength and beauty, simplicity and intricacy? Both are still young in their development, and so are building on an interesting history and moving towards a future filled with possibilities.