Both Sides of The Coin: The Story of The Central Bank of Barbados 1972-2017

Chapter 5: Some Notable Developments 199 celebrations, concerts, retirement functions and funerals) and venues (hotels, public spaces, district hospitals and communities). It has also partnered with a number of high-profile musical groups, including the Royal Barbados Police Force Band, the Defence Force Band and the Barbados Symphony Orchestra. The choir performed in the US Virgin Islands in 2006. All of these performances and partnerships helped to put a human face on the Bank. Youth Pan Project (formerly Pan in the Plaza) The Bank first sponsored steelpan music in the Cathedral Plaza in December 1987 when Fitzgerald “Booney” Brathwaite performed on three occasions. Some steelpan performances also took place in the Plaza during May 2002 to help celebrate the Bank’s 30th Anniversary. However, the “Pan in the Plaza” programme started in 2003 as a collaboration between the Bank and the Barbados Association of Steelpan Teachers to support the development of steelpan music in Barbados. The programme, which took place during the summer holidays, began with an intensive two-week training camp in the rudiments of steelpan music for students between the ages of nine and 14. The first camp attracted 60 participants and by 2009 the programme boasted registrants from 25 schools. The camps were conducted by former steelpan music instructor at the Manchester Music School, Barbadian Kently Gill. The second component was the showcasing of the talents acquired in the camp in the form of a pan extravaganza in the Cathedral Plaza. On a few occasions, inclement weather forced the event to move to the Hall. The first exhibition of talent took place on August 9, 2003, and Members of the Youth Pan Project in action.