Ms. Vanessa Alexandra Headley

134 Independence Avenue

San Fernando

Trinidad W.I.

Tel: 1-868-489-9151 (personal cell)

1-868-475-1225 (business)

A Lifetime Musician

Music is more than a mere study of notes and rhythms to me. It is a matrix for human expression and connectivity. I feel as if I have just scratched the surface of music studies, even though I have dedicated most of my life to it. I started playing the steelpan in 1993, at the age of four (4). The days and nights of practising, have honed my musicianship to this point. Performing for charities, doing workshops, many of them without remuneration and functioning as the Captain (former), CEO, Musical Arranger for Golden Hands and CXC teacher for both Golden Hands and my personal Institution MusicBoxx Education has deepened my value system. Yes I do enjoy socializing, but the core of my being is purely energized by music and especially by steelpan music.

I see a lifetime study of broadening and deepening my musical roots in the disciplines of performance, and composition. One of my main focuses is the art of recording well-balanced High Definition, steelband music. I have recently made some significant investments in making this vision a reality.

I desire greatly to compose steelband music for film and theatre, especially after my experience as the lead musical role of The Rainmakers, a steelpan musical drama. This was another dimension that added to my musical life as a member of Golden Hands. On this occasion, my primary role afforded me the opportunity to experiment with new styles and configuration of steelpans. This has recalibrated my conceptualization of the rich possibilities of this novel instrument.

I put great value on making contributions to the development of the sound phenomenon of this instrument, the National Instrument of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the only new instrument to be created in the twentieth century. I work with the best tuners who need the inspiration of solid players of the instrument like myself. I view collaborations with world-class musicians of all cultures and music specialties as very key to my journey. Finally, and by no means the least of my desires is my wish to continue to teach young people with exceptional talent who really need to be inspired and supported.

My Casual Interests

I am a keen interior-decorating enthusiast and am also regarded as a superb home cook by family and close friends.

Education

2011 – Berklee College of Music

Boston, Massachusetts

Five-Week Summer Program

· Awarded a scholarship to pursue degree studies in Performance

· Selected as a member of the All Star Funk Fusion Band after rigorous auditioning

2007 to 2010 - The University of the West Indies
St. Augustine Trinidad
Level Achieved: Bachelor of Arts Degree -Upper 2nd Class Honours Degree in Musical Arts

Received and held a scholarship from the Music Literacy Trust during this period.

2005 to 2007 – St. Stephen’s College
Princes Town. Trinidad
Level Achieved: Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) – 5 subjects

2000 to 2005 – St. Joseph’s Convent
San Fernando, Trinidad
Level Achieved: Caribbean Secondary Examinations Council (CSEC) – 8 subjects.

· Placed first in the Caribbean in CSEC Music.

· First CSEC Music student of St Joseph’s Convent San Fernando

1993 to 2000 –St Paul’s Anglican School

San Fernando, Trinidad

1993 to present– Golden Hands
San Fernando, Trinidad

· First Student of Golden Hands (steelpan academy)

Under the personal tutelage of Franka Hills-Headley (Founder/ Director) and Dane Hinds (Assistant Director) achieved all my music awards, musical arranging successes hereafter-mentioned and music academic certificates,

Including:

· The University Steelpan Solo Performance Examination up to Grade VIII

· 1^{st place} in the Caribbean in CSEC Music.

· First CSEC Music student of St Joseph’s Convent San Fernando

· .

1991-1993 – Open Bible Kindergarten

San Fernando, Trinidad

Work Experience

Date:	Organisation:	Role:
2012	National Symphony Steel Orchestra	Provided arrangement of National song of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago for performance at 50^th Anniversary concerts. The music has also been permanently incorporated in the orchestra’s repertoire.
2011to present	MusicBoxx Studios & MusicBoxx Education	Established an agency, MusicBoxx Studios, for specialty music services such as composition, arrangement, orchestration edtitting and transcription. The branch agency is MusicBoxx Education for all things pertaining to musical education.
3^rd semester 2011	St. Paul’s Anglican School	Music Tutor, for primary school students aged five (5) to twelve (12). Taught all classes of the school steelpan technique and performance.
Summer period 2008 - 2010	PSCC (Pan in Schools Coordinating Council)	Composition Workshop Tutor This project was initiated by the PSCC and sponsored by BpTT. Mentored and tutored 25 students per annum, on average. These students have since continued their studies in music composition as they work toward Caribbean Secondary Examinations Music Exam. In 2010 the PSCC opened the workshop to teachers as well. I was able to guide the music teachers as to how best to prepare their classes for the music composition portion of their students’ examinations.
2008	McCollum School of The Arts (Austin Texas)	Steelpan Performance Workshop As part of the main caste of Golden Hands musical The Rainmakers participated in a developmental workshop geared to demonstrating proper technique and steelpan performance practice to steelpan students of the school.
2005	Dominica Steelpan Association	Steelpan Performance Demonstrations and live television interview. These were conducted at the request of the Association in an effort to revitalize the steelpan fraternity of Dominica as well as showcase the potential of the instrument to young upcoming pannists.
Spring period-2004-2007	Dominica Steelpan Association Delaware School of the Arts	Steelpan Performance Workshop In conjunction with my mother, Franka Hills-Headley Founder/Director of Golden Hands conducted a developmental workshop geared to demonstrating proper technique and performance practice. Provided several musical arrangements for the school steel orchestra, as well as another community youth steelband, Plenty Problems.
2002-2003	St. Joseph’s Convent San Fernando	Steelpan Performance Workshop While I attended this school, I was asked to facilitate the teaching of steelpan to a group of fifteen (15) steelpan novices. I was required to provide musical arrangements and demonstrate technique. This was done in conjunction with Ms. Franka Hills Headley and students were afforded the facility of the Golden Hands instruments and panyard.
1995- present	Golden Hands	Music Instructor Assisted in the musical instruction of Golden Hands students during annual vacation camps. Prepared candidates for The University of the West Indies Steelpan Performance Examination, Associated Board of Royal Schools Theory of Music Examinations from 2004 to present and Caribbean Secondary School Examinations (Music) from 2005 to present. I also assisted Golden Hands students pursuing Certificate and Degree Studies in Music (pan) at The University of The West Indies, in areas such as composition, arrangement and performance. I provided original composition for one such student for solo performance examination. Teach Drumkit and Percussion (Foundation level)

My Skills

Skill	Level	Last Used	Experience
Sibelius	Expert	Currently Used	10yrs
Pro Tools	Intermediate	Currently Used	2 yrs
Pro Logic	Intermediate	Currently Used	2 yrs
Public Speaking	Intermediate	Currently Used	4 yrs

Accomplishments

Year	Activity	Accomplishment
2013	Arranged for Golden Hands for Trinidad and Tobago National Panorama (Small Band)	Band placed 9^th out of a field of fifty-four (65) competitors.
2012	Composed, arranged and conducted the music of Golden Hands in soloist and ensemble categories for the Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival	Soloists and ensembles were champions in all eight categories they contested. An additional seven (7) Adjudicators’ Awards were presented to the band including The President’s Award for the Best Performer of the Festival.
2012	Arranged for Golden Hands for Trinidad and Tobago National Panorama (Small Band)	Band placed 7^th out of a field of fifty-four (54) competitors.
2011	Berklee 5-week Summer Program	Attended the and received a certificate of completion, the honour of performing as a member of the All-Star Funk Fusion Band in the closing Concert as well as a Partial scholarship to continue studies at the Berklee College of Music.
2011 to present	Founder/Arranger of FRONTHOUSE	FRONTHOUSE is a steelpan septet of elite young musicians who have been performing on the steelpan for a minimum of ten (10) years, with Golden Hands. The music al repertoire possesses a wide range of genres, including such as avant-garde fusions of calypso, jazz Latin, pop and funk.
2011	Arranged for Golden Hands for Trinidad and Tobago National Panorama (Small Band)	Band placed 3rd out of a field of fifty-four (48) competitors
2010	Antigua Moods of Pan Festival	Featured as the first female soloist alongside Ken “Professor” Philmore (renowned pannist)
2010	Arranged for Golden Hands for Trinidad and Tobago National Panorama (Small Band)	Band placed 2^nd out of a field of fifty-four (44) competitors
2008	Arrangement for Golden Hands for the National Junior Panorama (21 yrs and Under)	Band placed 2^nd out of a field of twenty-seven (27) competitors
2006-2008	Stage Manager Leading Role-Performances McCollum School of The Arts (Austin, Texas) PASIC (Percussive Arts Society International Convention), Austin Texas, 2008. The University of The West Indies learning Resource Centre Queen’s Hall Naparima Bowl	Dance Production- “BEHOLD”, The Rainmakers, Golden Hands steelpan musical dramatic production written and directed by Franka Hills-Headley with all original musical works composed by Dr. Jeannine Remy idiomatic for steelpan instruments only.
2007-2010	Music Scholarship	Received and maintained scholarship from The Music Literacy Trust of Trinidad and Tobago
2007	Music composition	1^st place in MUSICANOVA Competition for original steelpan music-Duet for Double Seconds and Tenor in the intermediate and advanced categories.
2006	Arrangement for Golden Hands Junior Panorama (21 yrs and Under)	Band placed 3^rd out of a field of twenty-four (24) competitors

Music Festivals (Competitions)

YEAR	COMPETITION	CATEGORY	SELECTION	PLACE
2008	Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival	· Open Steelpan Solo · Chamber Trio	Variation on the 18^th Variation Golliwog’s Cakewalk	1^st 1^st
2006	Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival	· Open Steelpan Solo · Improvisation on Steelpan · Composition · Chamber Duet · Chamber Ensemble	No Pretty Laces Take Five US Morning Dance Hoe Down	1^st 2^nd 1^st 1^st 1^st
2005	National Junior Steelband Festival	· Under 21 Solo · Under 21 Duet · Under 21 Quartet	Nora Jane God and God Alone	1^st 1^st 2^nd
2004	World Steelband Festival Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival	· Solo · Duet · Open Steelpan Solo · Chamber Duet	Tropical Moods Sonate Pathétique Liebestraum Sonata No.1	3^rd 4^th National Champion South Champions
2003	National Junior Steelband Festival (Pan Trinbago) National Junior Steelband Festival (Pan In School)	· Solo · Duet · Solo · Duet	Sunny Isle Sonata in C# Minor Every time Ah Pass One Nice Little Girl (folk songs of T&T)*	4^th 3^rd 4^th 2^nd
2002	World Festival National	· Solo · Duet · Quartet	Dance of the Cocricco Sonata in C# Minor Rondo
2001	National Junior Steelband	Solo-Under 21	Fantasy Variations	5^th
1997	National Primary Schools’ Calypso Competition		Chosen as best calypso

Other Activities

· Composing and transcribing music for book publications. One of these is the first ever bilingual work for Trinidad pre-school combining Visual and Performing Arts. It was written in three (3) volumes and is entitled “Let’s Go On An Adventure” by Tamara Aboud-Pollonais. It has been endorsed by The University of The West Indies.

· The other is a series of folk stories and songs of Trinidad and Tobago compiled by Ms. Enid Kirton.

· Golden Hands Stage-side, Junior Panorama and National Panorama Arranger.

Responsible for expanding the group’s repertoire and transcribing all its music.

· Current Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O) of Golden Hands

· First Captain of Golden Hands Steel Orchestra

Affiliations

Organisation: PanTrinbago (World Governing Body for Steelpan)	Date: 2003 to present	Role: Executive of member band Golden Hands

Combined Disabilities of Trinidad and Tobago (member of Disabled Peoples International)	1998 to present	Performer/Arranger
Golden Hands	1993 to present	CEO/Musical Arranger

References

Name	Institution	Contact	Reference Type
Dr.Anne-Marion Osborne (Former Head of The U.W.I Music Department)	The University of the West Indies	Tel: 1-868-622-5066 E-mail: amo2410@gmail.com	Professional
Dr. Jeannine Remy	The University of the West Indies	Tel: 1-868-684-2742 E-mail: steelpanlady@yahoo.com	Professional
Mr. Patrick Arnold (Former President of Pan Trinbago) Currently The Chairman of The National Carnival Commission	The National Carnival Commission (NCC)	Tel: 1-868-683-5169	Personal

Please feel free to visit my websites:

http://wwwmusicboxxstudios.com

http://www.musicboxx-ed.com