birdsong to pay pannists

BIRDSONG Steel Orchestra of Tunapuna has announced that the organisation will be paying all its Panorama players this year.

In a release dated January 13 the management announced Robbie Greenidge as its new arranger and went on to say, “In keeping with our watchwords Get Up and do it Yourself, birdsong has taken the initiative to fill the gap left by Pan Trinbago’s inability to pay players fees on a timely manner.

“We have raised our own funding and will be covering the players' fees of all our Panorama musicians.”

In keeping with the good news birdsong has also intensified its Panorama practice schedule. There will be practise from Mondays to Saturdays starting at 7 pm. Musicians wishing to play for the band are asked to visit the panyard and register during this week to ensure they are part of the Panorama side.

Since its foundation was granted Registered Charitable Status by the Government in 2005, birdsong is run by a board of directors. The management sees this as a small step along the continuum of transformation that must be travelled if the institution is to embrace the opportunities which lie ahead.

As a not for profit organisation, Birdsong’s structure is made up of two divisions –music and social enterprises. There is Birdsong Steel Orchestra and Birdsong Academy (youth music education); and under the social enterprises there is birdsong Enterprises Limited (bEnt) and birdsong Agricultural Investments (bAgI).

According to Birdsong’s manager Dennis Phillip, “We have always found ways to deal with adversity and we have already put things in place to make sure our players are paid after the finals.”