Dr. Kendall K Williams, son of Trinidadians, began playing pan at the age of 4 and later performed with large, world-renowned steel bands in Trinidad and Tobago as well as bands in the New York-based scene for years, then after studies in architecture, he graduated from Florida Memorial University with a BA in Music under the direction of Dr. Dawn Batson, with his main instrument being the steel pan. He continued to further his studies at NYU Steinhardt, where he pursued a Master of Music Degree in Music Theory & Composition, studying with Julia Wolfe, Michael Gordon, and Rich Shemaria. There he also actively participated in the NYU Steel band under the leadership of Artist Faculty member Josh Quillen. Kendall was awarded the opportunity to work with the Brooklyn Philharmonic on a project that involved steel pan and contemporary music compositions. From 2013 t0 2014 he was the Van Lier Fellow with the American Composers Orchestra and graduated with his PHD in music composition at Princeton University! One of his goals is establishing steel pan music programs in colleges and universities that will allow musicians to major in steel pan and heads the WIADCA educational/development programs for schools, especially as he teaches in elementary schools to universities. Dr. Williams sits as CEO of Pan in Motion, an organization that he started in 2014, to promote history, education, and sustainability in steel pan. He has played in the Macy’s Parade and has won the People’s Choice award and placed 4th at the Panorama steelpan competition this past September in his second year of competition. In honor of the steelpan, which is the only new instrument invented in the 20th century in its birthplace of the twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago, Kendall’s dream is to own a building dedicated to the steelpan, its culture and history, with a steelpan museum, concert halls, performance spaces for mas and other aspects of carnival, rehearsal space, soundproof rooms for recordings, reading and teaching rooms, board rooms, artwork, storage for steel pans. He dreams of offering his employees: 401K retirement benefits, just like any other Fortune 500 company. He is passionate about raising the view of the steelpan to the level of rock, funk, soca, classical music in the eyes and ears of the world. Follow him at: https://www.paninmotion.com

 

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