The year 2009 unfolds with my self-imposed mandate - Develop and nurture a sustainable T&T music industry using ICT-based Steelpan products. In order to fulfill this initiative, Sanch will be creatively exploiting the synergies that exist between PETE the Panstick (PETE), The Pan in Education Business Model (PIE) and the Percussive Harmonic Instrument (PHI).

There will be ongoing collaboration between major stakeholders The University of the West Indies (UWI), The National Training Agency (NTA), The Ministry of Education (MOE), and a (soon to be announced) major corporate partner. The initiative has been christened The PPP Panadigm®.

In the first CD of the latest educational product to enhance the Sanch catalogue, Alfred Aguiton narrates the story of Franka Hills Headley’s The Rainmakers. The nine-piece neo classical symphonic suite, written by Dr. Jeannine Remy for steel orchestra and percussion ensemble, unfolds. Disc two contains the musical scores in all commonly used digital formats, plus other useful information for educators, musicians and students.

Recording/editing spanned a period of three months at the UWI Department of Creative and Festival Arts and our own Soundreaction studio. HDCD® mastering of disc one was done by the facility’s Managing Director Sean L. Sandiford. The product is now available for international distribution.

For details, please visit www.sanch.com/rainmakers.html. Mail orders will be fulfilled through www.panontheweb.com or www.sanchuk.co.uk

The Rainmakers will enact two concerts on March 08 at Naparima Bowl and March 22 at Queen’s Hall. Tickets are already being distributed, and may not be available at the box offices. I wish you an effervescent New Year.

Simeon L. Sandiford
Executive Producer of The Rainmakers