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Trinidad and Tobago-born steelpan musician, composer and arranger Savion Nicholls is set to showcase his versatility in a two-night production combining steelpan, classical voice, piano and inspirational music at the Central Bank Auditorium.
Voices in Praise – Steel & Song, presented in collaboration with Bravura Arts and Lydian Steel Ensemble, is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, at 7 pm and Sunday, October 18, at 6.30 pm.
The production will feature 21 musical selections, 12 of which Nicholls has arranged or co-arranged. He will also conduct seven selections and perform two instrumental pieces on tenor pan: Bach’s Allegro Assai in A Minor and You Raise Me Up.
Nicholls will join the ensemble for a performance of the Hallelujah Chorus, bringing together several aspects of his musical career, including performance, arranging and conducting.
The programme will feature arrangements of works including Ave Maria, God and God Alone, God Is Great and The Lord’s Prayer.
The concert represents an opportunity for Nicholls to bring together the different influences that have shaped his development, from classical music and sacred compositions to gospel and Caribbean musical traditions. It also reflects his interest in exploring how the steelpan can be presented in concert settings alongside established classical instruments and vocal performances.
Nicholls said the performance was an important milestone in his development as an artist.
“I see this performance as an important part of my journey as an artist,” he said. “It allows me to share the steelpan in a way that reflects where I come from, what I have studied and where I believe the instrument can go.”
Musical journey
Nicholls’ musical development began at an early age, with training in music theory through the Royal School of Music examinations at Birdsong Academy and practical steelpan examinations through the University of the West Indies’ Department of Creative and Festival Arts.
He also participated in school concerts at the British Academy in Port-of-Spain, building a foundation that would later support his formal studies and performance career.
His exposure to university-level music education continued at The UWI, where members of the music faculty invited him to audit selected classes. He subsequently pursued tertiary studies at Northern Illinois University under the tutelage of steelpan virtuoso Liam Teague, earning a bachelor’s degree in music magna cum laude and a master’s degree in music, with a grade point average of 3.886 and a tuition waiver.
His studies expanded his experience in composition, orchestration, electronic music and computer-based music production.
Nicholls’ work now spans local and international performances, collaborations, ensemble work and solo appearances. His experience across different musical settings has informed his approach to arranging and composition, while his exploration of music technology has broadened the possibilities for his creative work.
The upcoming production will allow audiences to experience these different elements of his artistry in one programme, with Nicholls moving between the roles of arranger, conductor and featured instrumentalist.
Championing neurodivergent talent
Beyond the music, the production will highlight the importance of creating opportunities for neurodivergent artists. Nicholls, who is on the autism spectrum, has developed his musical career through formal training, performance and experimentation.
A portion of the proceeds from the concert will be donated to the Autism Society of Trinidad and Tobago to support its work with individuals and families in the autism community.
Nicholls’ mother, Janice Christopher-Nicholls, said the concert was particularly meaningful to the family because of its focus on visibility and opportunities for autistic and other neurodivergent people.
“At the heart of the concert is something very personal to us: a desire to create greater visibility and opportunity for autistic and other neurodivergent individuals,” she said.
“Savion’s journey had many twists and turns, but it is a powerful reminder of what can happen when talent is recognised, encouraged and given the opportunity to shine. We hope his story will inspire young people and their families, while encouraging all of us to look beyond perceived limitations and see the possibilities within every individual.”
The family has extended a special invitation to parents and relatives of neurodivergent children to attend the performances.
The initiative places inclusion alongside the production’s artistic objectives, encouraging families to recognise and nurture individual abilities and to seek environments in which young people can develop their interests and talents.
An ensemble of voices and instruments
Joining Nicholls in the production will be Bravura Arts, with guest conductor Dike Samai, and Lydian Steel, led by captain Astra Noel.
The performers will also include soprano Kamaria Keens-Dumas Jack, mezzo-soprano Jaydelle Baird, baritenor Michael Ron Christopher and the MRC Band, pianist Alan Cooper, violinist Keisha Baisden and guitarist Dean Williams.
The combination of steelpan, piano, violin, guitar and classical voices is intended to give audiences a different experience of sacred and inspirational music, bringing familiar compositions into a contemporary Caribbean setting.
The production aims to demonstrate the steelpan’s versatility beyond its traditional associations with Carnival and popular music, highlighting its capacity to interpret a wide range of musical styles and to stand alongside other instruments in a concert setting.
Through the performances, Nicholls hopes to share his musical journey while demonstrating the steelpan’s potential to reach new audiences. The concert also offers an opportunity to celebrate Caribbean creativity while supporting greater recognition of neurodivergent talent.
English (US) ·