Parang Association to launch orchestra

THE National Parang Association of Trinidad and Tobago (NPATT) will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a year of celebrations starting from April 18.

Its president Alicia Jagassar, in a media release, said as it intends to produce a number of events to highlight the association’s journey throughout the years and to educate the national and international community about parang.

It will host a 50th anniversary church service called Giving Thanks and Blessings for the parang Artform. This will take place on April 18 at the Church of the Assumption, Long Circular Road, Maraval. Parranderos and their instruments will be blessed then, a media release said.

The association will also début its parang orchestra called Orquesta Nacional de Parang de Trinidad y Tobago (ONPaTT) at Queen’s Hall on April 19 from 7 pm.

This will be followed by a 50th anniversary awards and gala event called A Golden Artform Evolves.

The event will also honour 50 of TT’s parang icons and contributors such as late parang greats Daisy Voisin, Tito Lara, Gloria Alcazar and living legends Clarita Rivas, Henry Pereira and Sharlene Flores.

The release said ONPaTT, “aims to promote music literacy; to encourage a higher level of musicianship among its members; to promote parang as a teaching tool; to make scored parang music available to persons interested in this musical expression and to have a united musical voice at all national festivals.”

The orchestra includes a small choir of approximately eight members along with 24 musicians, the release said.

Its music team is composed of conductor Dr Mia Gormandy, musical director Enrico Camejo, assistant musical director Mikhel Carter and musical arranger Julio Torres.

“For fifty years we have been filling the hearts and homes of people with the gift of parang music.

“As one of the longest surviving music artforms, we have overcome many challenges, yet still we rise and stand today, stronger than ever and more determined to make it to 100 years and beyond,” Jagassar said.

The association will also host a national parang caravan throughout different communities across the country.

The caravan will feature bands on trucks moving from community to community and the association said there will be no entertainment stops at any point and all covid19 protocols will be observed.

The association has also ensured that all covid19 protocols have been and will be enforced during its rehearsals and performances.

For more info: e-mail: thepronpatt@gmail.com or secretarynpatt@gmail.com.