Interview with Dr. Mia Gormandy-Benjamin | Women in Pan, Episode 7

In Episode 7 of the “Women in Pan” 10-part series, under the A Better Tomorrow banner, Attillah Springer interviews Dr. Mia Gormandy-Benjamin about her life and journey in pan. Mia is an Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Trinidad & Tobago (UTT). She attained her Doctor of Philosophy degree (2017) in ethnomusicology from Florida State University (FSU). She is also the Chief Executive Officer for PanNotation Limited, an online platform that facilitates the sale of steelpan scores in addition to the acquisition of educational materials. Dr. Gormandy-Benjamin has performed on the steelpan in several countries around the world including Austria, Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan, the United States, Canada, and countries in the Caribbean. She recently worked on the virtual “Pan in Unity” project as a response to the 2020 pandemic, which featured a performance of 691 musicians from 23 countries. Dr. Gormandy-Benjamin is a long-time member of the renowned Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra, where she serves as artistic director. Most recently, she’s served as the conductor for the Orquesta Nacional de Parang de Trinidad y Tobago - the islands’ first parang orchestra.
The “Women in Pan” series ( • Women in Pan Series (A... ) continues in the coming weeks with more in-depth interviews:
• October 28 - Yuko Asada
• November 4 - Natasha Joseph
• November 11 - Michelle Huggins-Watts
THE “WOMEN IN PAN” TEAM
• Executive Producers: Mark Loquan & Maria Nunes
• Director & Editor: Maria Nunes
• Associate Producer: Caroline Taylor
• Interviewer: Attillah Springer
#ABetterTomorrow #WomenInPan #steelpan #steelband #trinidadandtobago

[@quatropin]

There is this woman in All-Stars who plays the Bass pan, and she is really good, I have been watching her playing the Bass pan since All-Stars won Panorama with Woman on the Bass way back, I think she needs to be celebrated for her long service and dedication to the Pan.

[@MANUELSilva-qn6dt]

Excellent interview! As a Caribbean pannist and pan researcher myself, I am proud of both of you.

[@pmwj63]

Powerful, enlightened and passionate! A wonderful interview. Kudos to Dr. Gormandy-Benjamin on her excellent work and contribution to our precious national instrument. Looking forward to what else she has in store for us. Special thanks to her for her selfless work with the students of UTT- the academic incubator of our next generation of pan musicians.

[@alvintoarmorer7877]

Happy for what is going on with the pan it has come a long way the best is come my respect to the women in pan there is going to be a better tomorrow

[@Steel4Kay]

Absolutely inspiring! Thank you for sharing your story, Dr. Mia Gormandy-Benjamin.

[@shawndellclarke3658]

Dr Mia Gormandy Benjamin 💃🏾 like a Mother to Us 💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@TONYTONY-wy6ie]

Simply brilliant 👏