Yuko Asada, Musical Instrument Technician and Director of the CSA Steelband in the NIU School of Music is one of four pioneers of steelpan highlighted in the 10-episode web series “Women of Pan.”
A new episode premieres each Friday, and the the first two installments are already available. The series “explores contemporary issues in pan through the lens of five outstanding women,” according to Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.
The episodes are featured on musician and documentarian Mark Loquan’s YouTube channel. The musician and filmmaker has worked with photographer and filmmaker Maria Nunes on the series.
Women featured along with Asada are Dr. Mia Gormandy-Benjamin, Vanessa Headley, Michelle Huggins-Watts and Natasha Joseph.
Asada was the featured subject of the second episode – “The Art and Science of Steelpan Building and Tuning.”
The first five episodes are “issue-driven” and include topics like: gender issues in steelpan, the art and science of steelpan building and tuning, music literacy, leadership and perspectives on Panorama, and the final five episodes feature in-depth interviews with each of the documentary subjects. Asada’s focused interview episode will premiere on October 28.
Banner photo – Yuko Asada from markloquanmusic.com
