| BIOGRAPHY Continued Media Coverage by Author / Web-site Publicist: EMPRESS ARLANNA "Mrs. Arlanna Alie, maiden name: Arlanna Lewis" (Canadian Newspaper Journalist, T.V. Reporter, Radio Show Hostess.) In 2014 Earl La Pierre was awarded for his contribution to the art of Steel Pan in Canada, by the Ontario Steel Pan Association (O.S.A.); presented to him at a formal hotel banquet gala ceremony; by Her Excellency Dr. Vidhya Gyan Tota-Maharaj - the CONSUL GENERAL for the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago in Toronto. Earlier that year, the City of Barrie (Rhythmfest) also awarded Earl La Pierre as a Pioneer of Steel Pan; presented by the MAYOR of BARRIE, with special thanks to Mr. Rudi Quammie Williams - a DIRECTOR within the Department of Arts & Culture. (As seen in the VIDEOS on this web-site). CAYMAN PANORAMA RESULTS for 2014 included these Steel Bands arranged by Earl La Pierre: 1st place Panoramas. 2nd place Pandemix. 3rd place Pan People. Formerly of St Clair, Port-of-Spain Trinidad, Earl La Pierre is one of many Trinidadians who have made their mark in their various spheres of the world. While living in Canada he taught steel pan music at the University of Toronto, North York Board of Education and the Toronto Board of Education. Earl was instrumental in getting the Steel pan offered as a credit course in the North Schools. Earl has won ALL Kiwanis Music Festivals in the Steel band category in Secondary, Junior and Primary School from 1979 - 1986. During that time the bands under Earl’s tutelage (most notably those from West View) received 29 wins at Secondary level (with 1 second place in 1983) and 6 wins at the Primary level. In the Jazz and Pan category the West View Steel band received 3 wins from 1984 thru 1986. At West View Earl was instrumental in getting no less than 8 steel bands started; at the Secondary level there was Pangroove, Pantario, the Senior Band, the Junior Band and the Open Band, and at the Primary Level there was Topcliffe, Day Strome, and Firgrove. It was in 1986 when Earl headed to Cayman Islands for the Pirates week Festival, an opportunity to teach pan there arose. He ended up spending 18 years there and loved every moment of it. While there he opened a school called Cayman School for Pan, has a Carnival Steel band named Panoramers and teaches pan at the primary, middle and high schools, as well as Catholic Schools, in Grand Cayman. At this time, as a result of Earl's contributions, all the schools offer steel band as part of their educational program. Earl has won every School Music Festival and every Carnival Pan Competition in Cayman Islands from 1988 - 2006. As steel band teacher, and a performer, La Pierre performs at all the major hotels in the Cayman Islands, but mainly at Treasure Island Resort. He is credited with introducing Trinidad and Tobago's national instrument to this island to the extent where it has become an indelible part of that country's culture. Unfortunately, in 2004 Hurricane Ivan touched down on the island and took away all Earl's possessions and since then he has been residing once again in Toronto. La Pierre has always been active in the Trinidad pan scene. He is a former member of Metronomes where he place 3rd as a soloist in the Trinidad Music Festival. He arranged for Invaders where he placed 2nd in the bomb competition: placed 5th in Panorama Final, he was also a member of Starlift Steel Orchestra and for the past 26 years has played as a member of Phase II Pan Groove. In 1999, he arranged the panorama tune for Southern Marines and for the past several years he has been arranging for Harmonites where Earl has also garnered several accolades. In 2002 he placed 1st in the East and 4th in the finals of the Pan in the 21st Century competition. In the Panaorama competition with Earl as their arranger, Harmonites were the People’s Choice in 2006, and received 7th place in 2007 and 10th place in 2008. In the ‘Bomb’ competition, Earl and the Harmonites have also garnered several notable awards. In 2006 they received 2 first, 3 second, and 1 third place. In 2009, they placed 12th, Panorama. Pan In The 21st Century: In 2007, Harmonites garnered 3rd place; In 2008, 5th place; In 2009, 6th place. In 2007 they received 1 first, 2 second, and 2 third place; and in 2008 they received 2 first and 1 second place. Earl has distinguished himself as Canada's Top arranger, by being judged the winning of Best Playing Steel band at Toronto's annual Caribana celebrations for the unprecedented 30th time. To put this in perspective, it must be mentioned here that this feat was accomplished during a 44-year span from 1969 to 2013; Toronto Symphony Steel band - 1, Impacts - 3, Harriet Tubman Survivors - 2, Trinidad Average Steel band - 2 and Afropan – 28 In the year 2013, the AFROPAN STEEL BAND celebrated its 40th Anniversary, as recognized by the CITY OF TORONTO which also allocated an official landmark name to the panyard, known today as 'AFROPARK'. The park is located at the southern end of Jefferson Ave. off of King St., just east of Dufferin St. bordering the Allan A. Lamport Stadium. (VIEW THE CHRONOLOGICAL TIME-LINE OF WINNING TITLES DOWN BELOW) Within the years of Toronto-based competitions that started in 1971 respectively, Earl La Pierre Sr. and his steel bands have garnered 32 first place titles out of ALL competitions in total, having also won 10 second place titles and 2 third place titles. This is even more remarkable when one considers the time, effort and energy required to maintain the quality of musicianship required to win one award. For this reason, in 2002 at the annual Snowflakes of Steel show, the Pan Arts Network recognized Earl La Pierre as their first ambassador of the Pioneer In Pan Award. In 2008, Earl La Pierre was presented with THE TRINIDAD & TOBAGO CONSUL GENERAL'S DIASPORA AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN CULTURE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, THROUGH THE PROMOTION OF THE STEEL PAN. In 2010, he was given the GOLD CARIBANA TRIBUTE AWARD and the CAYMAN ISLANDS GOLD CROSS AWARD. In Cayman Islands, Earl La Pierre continues to arrange for several steel bands including his own. During the 2010 Pirates Week Steel Band Competition, Panoramers placed first and Pandemix placed second. At the 2011 Cayman Islands Music Festival, his multiple arrangements proved successful, yet again, with Prep Pantastic claiming first place, Panoramers claiming second place and Pandemix claiming third place in the Open Category. The Junior Category exhibited more victorious wins by his steel bands including Prep' claiming first place and Grace All Star in second place. In the Senior Category, amazing outcomes were achieved by his steel bands; Panoramers having earned the first place title and Pandemix rightfully beholding second place. The Pirates Week Steel Band Competition of that same year proved to be another success for Earl La Pierre, given his role as the Arranger, which paved the way for more wins in the Junior Category, by Prep Pantastic embracing first place, Grace All Star in second place, and Tripple C Steel Breeze in third place. The Senior Category results included Panoramers in first place and Pandemix in second place. Upon several opportunities to work in Trinidad, his arrangement lead Solo Harmonites Steel Band to two of their first place victories in addition to their second place title during the Bomb Competition (J'ouvert Morning), 2011. At the 2012 Cayman Islands Music Festival, the E.L.P winning track record displays as follows: Cayman Prep. Juniors: 1 GOLD, 1 SILVER Women of Steel: 2 SILVER Cayman School For Pan: 3 GOLD Grace Christian: 3 GOLD Cayman Prep: 2 GOLD, 1 SILVER, Triple C: 3 GOLD U.C.C.I. College: 3 GOLD Cayman School For Pan (Solo Competition): Prep: 2 SILVER, 1 GOLD, 1 SILVER Cayman School For Pan: AZIZA LA PIERRE: 1 GOLD U.C.C.I. College: 17 GOLD, 7 SILVER 2014 Steel Pan Solos: CAYMAN SCHOOL FOR PAN: 2 GOLD / CAYMAN PREP Juniors: 1 GOLD, 1 SILVER GRACE ACADEMY Junior High: 2 GOLD / CAYMAN PREP: 1 GOLD, 1 SILVER TRIPLE C: 1 GOLD / U C C I Senior High: 1 GOLD, 1 SILVER. TOTAL OVERALL STANDING: 8 GOLD, 3 SILVER 2014 MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS (Cayman Islands): Students instructed by Earl La Pierre; each WON 1st and 2nd place respectively; for this prestigious AWARD, having surpassed ALL OTHER MUSICIANS who played ALL OTHER TYPES of INSTRUMENTS for their own repertoire presentations in front of judges during the competition. This recognition was the FIRST EVER to have been given - to the "STEEL PAN" itself, thanks to these wonderful young Players (Pannists), (their names can be referenced in the Cayman News), both of whom have also created HISTORY in the MAKING ! Earl La Pierre was chosen to fulfill his role as a JUDGE on the panel for "PINOY IDOL 2011" hosted in Cayman Islands, a competition at which Nationals of the Philippines express their vocal talents (similar to the globally televised "American Idol" concept). VIEW PHOTOS of this afore-mentioned event below: |
| Portfolio of Championship Titles won at Pan Competitions in CANADA Arranger "EARL LA PIERRE" Toronto's Steel Band of the Year HISTORY (1969 - 2019) prior to the global pandemic as follows: 2019: Afropan 2nd 2018: Afropan 3rd 2017: Afropan 5th 2016: Afropan 2nd 2015: Afropan 2nd 2014: Afropan 2nd 2013: Afropan 2nd 2012: Afropan 2nd 2011: Afropan 1st 2010: Afropan 3rd 2009: Afropan 3rd 2008: Afropan 2nd 2007: Afropan 2nd 2006: Afropan 1st 2005: Afropan 2nd 2004: Afropan 1st 2003: Afropan 1st 2002: Afropan 1st 2001: Afropan 2nd 2000: Afropan 2nd 1999: Afropan 1st 1998: Afropan 1st 1997: Afropan 1st 1996: Afropan 1st 1995: Afropan 1st 1994: Afropan 1st 1993: Afropan 1st 1992: Afropan 1st 1991: Afropan 1st 1990: Afropan 2nd 1989: Afropan 1st 1988: Afropan 1st 1987: Afropan 1st 1986: Afropan 1st 1985: Afropan 2nd 1984: Afropan 1st 1983: Afropan 2nd 1982: Afropan 1st 1981: Afropan 1st 1980: Afropan 1st 1979: Afropan 1st 1978: Afropan 2nd 1977: Afropan 1st 1976: Average Steel Band (Afropan) 1st 1975: Average Steel Band (Afropan) 1st 1974: Harriet Tubman Survivors (Afropan) 1st 1973: Harriet Tubman Survivors (Afropan) 1st 1972: Impacts (Arranger: Earl La Pierre SR.) 1st 1971: Impacts Competition held at Maple Leaf Gardens, (Arranger: Earl La Pierre SR.) 1st 1970: Impacts (Arranger: Earl La Pierre SR.) 1st 1969: Toronto Symphony Steel Band Leader: Elton Smokey John (Arranger: Earl La Pierre SR.) 1st In 2015, Invaders Steel Band of Trinidad & Tobago celebrated their 75th Anniversary. Earl La Pierre SR. was awarded recognition as one of the Arrangers. |
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| To follow Earl La Pierre SR. beyond the year 2020, use the Google search, YouTube, Facebook OR E-mail: earllapierre@hotmail.com For Toronto-based inquiries, visit www.SteelPanCanada.com |
