Interview with Vanessa Headley | Women in Pan, Episode 6

In Episode 6 of the “Women in Pan” 10-part series, under the A Better Tomorrow banner, Attillah Springer interviews Vanessa Headley about her life and journey in pan. Known as the first and only person to win the national Panorama competition (Small Band 2018) as the composer, singer and arranger, Vanessa has been a 29-year steelpan devotee. As the first student of Golden Hands, founded by her mother, she first arranged for the band at age 12. Repeated solo champion, Vanessa earned the CXC Caribbean Music Award in 2005. She was the first steelpan musician to be awarded an academic scholarship by Berklee College of Music (Boston, USA). Facilitating and performing at several international workshops, she has also adjudicated competitions in calypso, mas and steelpan in Trinidad and the UK. Vanessa holds a BA (Hons) in Musical Arts (University of the West Indies) and an MA in Psychology for Musicians (University of Sheffield, UK). In 2020, she made history again as the first female to arrange for three different bands in one year in all conventional categories at Panorama.
The “Women in Pan” series ( • Women in Pan Series (A... ) continues in the coming weeks with more in-depth interviews:
• October 21 - Dr. Mia Gormandy-Benjamin
• 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

[@lorrainewilson1148]

Loooooovely interview. Congrats to both mummy Franka and Vanessa. You have made us proud

[@islandicnegro1st]

YESSSS. Miss Franka definitely kept us in line and made Golden Hands a safe and affirming space for all of us. I loved this interview Vanessa! 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 More work to be done. Keep shining your light 🥰

[@quincy2507]

great interview

[@tonyob2455]

Nice Interview. The journey! T'was great hearing more off and from the respected great "Vanessa Headley". And, I luv the idea of the 'Extended Seconds", lover of the mid range pans. Thank you. OB 🤗✌ .

[@achbymcc3699]

Great interview ! A true sister of the soil .The true meaning of Discipline Production and Tolerance. God bless.

[@karendolor8015]

Excellent! A very insightful and thought-provoking contribution ❤

[@martin.jhorsford5645]

Pan Unity Centre♥🤍🖤