Salah's Steelpan Academy

In 1988 Salah put together his first Steelpan School a family steelband ensemble. Six children and parents, "Salah and Family Steelpan Workshop". This family ensemble plays all Steelpan instruments, from Bass to Soprano. A unique group with a unique sound playing a variety of musical styles including Classical, Jazz, Reggae, Pop, Latin, Gospel, Soca, and Calypso. The Steelpan Workshop steelband has been busy making television appearances, radio shows, performing at school functions, private functions, shopping malls, campuses, cultural activities and concerts. Concert venues and appearances have included the Spectrum, Pollack Hall, Loyola Concert Hall, in accompaniment to the Jubilation choir; a presentation of both American and Canadian Anthems at the Olympic Stadium prior to an Expo’s Baseball game; the Molson Centre during a Hockey game; and five days at the Montreal International Jazz Festival 1997 PANORAMA   The Steelpan Workshop family ensemble took part in the Panorama competitions in Toronto in 1995 and won with a small group of seven players.

In 1997 Steelpan Workshop took part in the Panorama competitions in Boston, USA, and emerged as third place winners RECORDINGS   In 1995 the Salah & Family Steelpan Workshop released its debut compact disk and cassette entitled Good Feelings; a mixture of Classical, Jazz, Reggae, Pop, Latin, and Soca-Calypso. The material includes some items enhanced with a blend of vocals and with some original compositions and arrangements by Salah Salah has been working with the Schools in Canada, introducing Steelpan into their music curricula since 1991. By 1995 the schools in the City of Montreal included Coronation School, John Grant, & Shadd Academy High and Somerled Schools. By this time Salah had graduated with a Bachelor in Fine Arts, specializing in Jazz with pan, after three years at Concordia University. Following on from this, and by which time in 1996 having been involved with an additional Adult Steelpan Program at Somerled School for Parents and Teachers; there were thoughts for starting an independent Steelpan school. In 1997 this became a reality as Salah & Family established their own private music school then called the Salah & Family Steelpan Music Academy. The intention of this school was to establish a base for teaching music with the Steelpan and ultimately to achieve the status of an accredited school of music. In 1999 Salah authored and published a 400page Steelpan text book entitled "Steelpan Playing With Theory". This book is currently being used in the school’s curriculum of Trinidad & Tobago and is now also available for the international public. PANORAMA In 2000 the family ensemble school had completed an evolution and now emerged as a registered non-profit organization."Salah's Steelpan Academy".

Since 1995, Salah and his group from Montreal had been visiting Toronto participating in the annual Panorama competition. Salah's Steelpan Academy based in Montreal was founded by Salah & Family. This family oriented organization has been annually participating in Toronto events since 1994. Having won the Panorama competition on two occasions and placed in the top three on several others in Toronto’s first Panorama competitions produced by Cecil Clarke of Pan Trinbago Canada. After the demise of Pan Trinbago Canada and with the inception of Ontario Steelpan Association (OSA), Salah's Steelpan Academy has placed itself amongst the top bands from the beginning. The Academy is now credited to having won the last four consecutive Panorama competitions (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010).This is a first time accomplishment for OSA's Pan Alive and one where very few bands internationally have ever done. This has put Salah's Steelpan Academy in an elite group of the very few which has achieved this honor. The Academy's emphasis is music literacy as evident by Musical Director Salah Wilson who is an author of six Steelpan Text books. People of all ages, nationalities and background with or without musical experience, are always welcome. The Academy also encourages a special group where some of the students are autistic by nature. The makeup of the Academy consist of 10 of Salah's immediate family including wife, six children and two grandchildren which ultimately forms the hard core of the group, along with students of Elementary and Secondary schools of Montreal where they have been teaching Steelpan programs since 1991 plus adults and senior citizens. Win lose or draw, the annual trip to Toronto is always at the top of the agenda. The Academy has also been very successful in its Montreal Panorama competitions winning seven out of ten times and an unprecedented championship of the last four consecutive victories in Montreal (2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010). The Competition in Montreal began in 2001.The following are some of the results for the Panorama competitions in Toronto and Montreal

                           MONTREAL  &  TORONTO

1.   No competition ....................................... 2000 MONTREAL              
2.  1st place ..... "Picture On My Wall" .....  2000 TORONTO 
3.  1st place .... “Stranger” .......................... 2001 MONTREAL            
4.  2nd place .... "Stranger";......................... 2001 TORONTO.      
5.  2nd place .... "Colours";.......................... 2002 MONTREAL           
6.  2nd place .... "Colours"; ........................ 2002 TORONTO
7.   1st place .....  "Soca Train"; .................  2003 MONTREAL         
8.    No competition ........................................ 2003  TORONTO
9.   2nd  place ...  “Music In My Blood”...... 2004  MONTREAL           
10.   4th place .....  “Music In My Blood” .... 2004  TORONTO
11.   1st place .....  "Action"; ......................... 2005 MONTREAL            
12.   5th place ..... “Action” .......................... 2005  TORONTO
13.   2nd place ..... "This One"; ..................... 2006 MONTREAL           
14.   6th place ..... “This One” ....................... 2006  TORONTO
15.   1st place ...... "Pan Lamentation" ........ 2007 MONTREAL            
16.   1st place ..... "Pan Lamentation" .......... 2007 TORONTO
17.   1st place ...... "Puncernelly" ................. 2008 MONTREAL            
18.   1st place ..... "Puncernelly" ................... 2008 TORONTO
19.   1st place ...... “First In The Line’’ ........ 2009 MONTREAL          
20.   1st place ..... “First In The Line’’ ........ 2009 TORONTO
21.   1st place ...... “Battle Zone” ................. 2010 MONTREAL           
22.   1st place .... “Battle Zone’’ .................. 2010 TORONTO
23.    1st place .... "How We Coming" .......... 2011 MONTREAL
24.    2nd place .... How We Coming" .........  2011 TORONTO
25.   1st place .... "Give Them Tempo" .......... 2012 MONTREAL
26.    5th place .... Give Them Tempo" .........  2012 TORONTO