STEVE SOBERS used his musical talent to make his mark in history.
He had a vision to make the month of November extra special and his patriotic spirit did not rest until he accomplished that goal.
On the night of the 50th Anniversary Service of Thanksgiving, those present stood at attention to his new arrangement of the National Anthem.
The 31-year-old said he became emotional when the National Choir lifted their voices in harmony to sing the song’s lyrics to his new arrangement. Sobers said it was an honour to be remembered for his contribution to the development of music in the island.
Although he said he feels extremely proud of what he has done at a young age Sobers told EASY magazine that he is yet to reach the zenith of his talent.
After leaving Ellerslie Secondary School, Sobers joined the Royal Barbados Police Force Band. He said the transition to the band was not difficult because he played in the band at his alma mater.
“When I entered the band I had to mix with people who had various views and backgrounds,” he said.
“As an apprentice I had to undergo rigorous training and I learnt valuable lessons both in music and manhood which moulded me into the individual I am today. As a teenaged boy I found that I was not easily distracted and my drive matured under The Tutors Constable Scheme. That programme helped me to stay focus and keep on the straight and narrow path. It reminded the others enrolled and I that we were about to become full-fledged policemen and therefore we had to act the part as well.”
Sobers, who has worked with calypso artistes such a Lil Rick and Khiomal and led the band of the All Stars Calypso Tent in 2006 and played for Celebration Time, explained that when one enters the Police Band and reaches the Grade A Band Apprentice Standard you are selected for promotion to the rank of constable, then you train at the Regional Police Training Centre for about six months and upon completion you can specialise in a desired area.
“There is usually a misconception that musicians in the band only play music but if called upon we have to serve and protect the public too. For example if you specialise in the mounted or canine division and you are needed to help fight crime then you are summoned to do so; we are policemen who are specialists in particular areas. ”
The arranger/composer wanted to further develop his craft and learn more about the field. He did his associates at the Barbados Community College (BCC), travelled to the United States to earn a bachelor’s at Lehman College [New York] and recently gained a scholarship to pursue his master’s in movie music.
“I wanted to have a deeper understanding of music. I wanted to learn how to compose music. My tutors Roger Gittens and David Weatherhead played an instrumental role in my development. They helped me to reach the stage where I was ready to go after my bachelor’s.
“At BCC I was glad that I had to complete other courses such as history and politics, which made me a more rounded person. Those courses helped me to understand what was going on around me in a holistic way and the skills I picked up from those classes I carried with me to New York.”
The constable described his experience in the new country as great. He explained that he was not only able to become more confident in his abilities and trust his instincts but he was able to apply what his former tutors taught him in the new environment.
“I was able to meet new people with different ethnicities and learnt who I am as an individual more; and I got the chance to bond with people with different beliefs, vantage points and personalities. Living in a dorm with many students made me start to think about life in different ways and I developed more appreciation for it.”
Sobers said this had an influence on his music.
“We all experience the same challenges and the students in my dorm taught me how to approach issues differently. I was able to apply this new way of thinking to my music. I got to play in the Amore Opera, The Doctor’s Orchestra of New York and the Lehman Community College Band, and these three bands have people with various perspectives on life and again I was able to gain more knowledge.”
A humble Sobers never acted as though he knew it all. His desire was to gain strength and he believed that every individual he met had something to teach and so he absorbed and shared as much information as he possibly could. He said knowledge is the key to success and no matter how many qualifications one has, he or she can learn something new every day.
He recently gained a National Development Scholarship to pursue his master’s at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. He said he wants to get into composing music for motion pictures. However, before he accomplishes that goal he is basking in achieving his vision for this year’s 50th Independence celebrations.
“I take pride in what I do and I was not scared to share my idea. I came up with the idea to rearrange the Anthem because I think we don’t really sing the second verse of the Anthem like we ought to. So I took the opportunity to write a descant for the second verse and give it a different sound, different harmony and give it colour; I wanted Barbadians to feel a sense of pride.”
It took Sobers three months to get everything in place. Within that time he was able to do research, pitch the idea to director of music Senior Superintendant Keith Ellis and superiors and receive the go ahead from the Prime Minister’s Office to practise the arrangement for the thanksgiving service.
“On the night of the show I cried when the anthem played. I was playing my French horn and crying. The music from the band and the voices of the National Choir was like magic and I don’t think it is a moment than can be relived. For me it was the ultimate feeling of a patriotic Barbadianism. My mother always told me to put my best foot forward in anything I do and I was just so overwhelmed with emotion I could not hold back my tears.
“Even to this day I am still getting feedback from people saying that they enjoyed my touch on the anthem and to keep doing what I am doing and having the recognition of the Governor General, the Prime Minister and, more importantly, the people of Barbados makes me feel really appreciated.
“Having made this contribution, my ultimate goal is to be recognised as an iconic figure.”
Sobers said that his achievements in life this far were possible because of the maxim he lives by: “Treat every day as a day to learn new things and apply those things to challenges that may arise”.