The Talented Codrington Pan Family
The Codrington Pan Family
Staff Article
February 22, 2005
When Cary Codrington's childhood neighbours, Joseph and Alison Cummings taught him to play the pan under the downs tree in their back yard, they laid the foundation for a future initiator of an influential and phenomenal musical legacy. Today the family of Cary Codrington, affectionately known as 'The Codrington Pan Family' residing at Bath Street East Dry River, Port of Spain, are all proficient on the steelpan and are unique contributors to the legacy of this musical art form.
Cary Codrington's own musical career received a boost from its humble beginnings in the Cummings' back yard to an opportunity to play pan professionally with Starlift Steel Orchestra in 1972. His talent and enthusiasm for the instrument continued throughout his youth and today Cary continues to devote much of his time to the nurturing of young talent with several school bands, individuals and groups. Following his experience with Starlift, Cary took his talents to another level and began his arranging career with the Woodbrook Government Secondary School.
Under Codrington's tutelage, Woodbrook Secondary won the School's Panorama in 1978. Nine years later, he repeated this feat with the well renowned and respected St. Augustine Senior Comprehensive School band. In recent years, Cary has been arranging for the Success Laventille School Steelband. They also won the School Steelband Festival on two occasions, placed second on two other occasions and won the Junior Panorama in 2003.
It was in 1982 that Cary started arranging for adult bands. The City Symphony Steelband was one of them. He also took Birdsong to the National Panorama Finals in 1984. He is presently arranging for Laventille Sound Specialists who continued the tradition of musical excellence by placing 5th in the medium band category at the National Panorama Finals in 2004.
Parents Cary and Karen Codrington
The 'Codrington Pan Family' - parents Cary and Karen and children Keisha, Kareem, Kizzi, Kamau, Khari and Kaijah - is very active on the music scene in Trinidad. Members participated in the 2004 World Steelband Music Festival, won the quartet category and claimed second position in the duet category. Keisha Codrington won the world steelpan soloist category at this competition. Keisha is a multitalented 10-year-old and, following in her father's footsteps, has already begun arranging music for steelbands. She has been and continues to be very instrumental in the arrangements for the Success Laventille Steelband, which placed 5th in the 2005 Junior Panorama Competition. Two other members of the Codrington Pan Family also play for the Trinity College School Steelband.
Cary explains that he likes to spend time teaching steelband music, especially to the young ones, because he believes that the zeal that is abundant in young musicians can help the evolution of steel bands and allow Trinidad to maintain a leading role in the future of steelband music.
Karen Codrington, the mother of the family, is also an accomplished and very talented pannist. She nurtures the abundance of talent that is present in her family and is very proud of their achievements. She hopes that their talent and contribution to keeping steelpan music alive will soon become more recognized as an important and historical part of our culture, not just nationally but internationally. Karen believes that her family is an example of what can be achieved when a family stays together and supports each other.
Check out the Codrington Family album at:
www.trinbagopan.com/gallery/codrington
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