ENSEMBLES 2013

Toronto All Stars Steel Orchestra

TORONTO ALL STARS Steel Orchestra is one of the leading young Steelbands in the Greater Toronto Area. The band was born out of necessity as the students, after they left their elementary public school, did not have steelpan offered at their high schools. Under Salmon Cupid’s careful tutorage and adherence to discipline and hard work, they have racked up an impressive success rate in competition. The band has also performed at most of the major halls in the city of Toronto; Massey Hall, Roy Thompson Hall and the Ford Centre for the Performing Arts to name a few. They have become a fixture at community functions and have supported many charitable causes and community events. In 2004 they made their first international trip to Scotland where they represented Canada in the Aberdeen International Youth Festival. In 2007 they represented Canada at the Australian International Music Festival where they performed at the Sydney Opera House. They came away with the gold award from that event. In July of 2009, they returned to the Aberdeen International Youth Festival in Scotland. In 2011 they toured Italy performing in the FOG (Festival Orchestre Giovanili). This year’s repertoire consists of a mixture of Classical, Jazz, Calypso, Contemporary and Pop genres.

Salmon Cupid

Conductor

Salmon Cupid is the Musical Director of Toronto All Stars Steel Orchestra. He was born and raised in the republic known as Trinidad and Tobago, the birthplace of the steelpan. He began playing the steelpan at his high school, St. Augustine Senior Comprehensive School, one of the most dominant high school bands in Trinidad, and rose through the ranks to become Captain of that school’s steelband. Together with his school band, Mr. Cupid toured France on an excursion coordinated by the Jeunesse Musical de France. They also toured Paris, Japan and participated in the Aberdeen International Youth Festival in Scotland on separate occasions. After he finished his education in Trinidad, Mr. Cupid migrated to Toronto, Canada to teach steelpan music with the Toronto Board of Education which he has been doing for the past nineteen years.

Celebration Program

Additional Concerts Program