Interview with Michelle Huggins-Watts | Women in Pan, Episode 10

In Episode 10 of the “Women in Pan” 10-part series, under the A Better Tomorrow banner, Attillah Springer interviews Michelle Huggins-Watts about her life and journey in pan. Michelle has been an educator for over 30 years, having her first teaching experience at the Melville Memorial Girls’ Anglican School. She then moved on to Trinity College (Moka) where she taught Music, English Literature, and English Language and also served as form teacher, dean, and vice principal. Michelle is currently a school administrator and coordinator at the University of the West Indies Open Campus. Heralded as the first female arranger to ever win a Panorama championship title, Michelle’s musical experiences began at the age of five, playing the piano with formal theory and practical exams up to Grade 8. However, her desire to play the steelpan only became a reality at the age of 14 when she became a member of her school band at St. Francois Girls’ College. There, she became captain of the band and had her first experience with arranging — the Schools’ Steelband Music Festival was the event. Michelle also played the tenor pan with T&TEC Power Stars, Casablanca and eventually Phase II Pan Groove where she ascended to captaincy, becoming the first female captain of a major band. Her first break as a Panorama arranger was with T&TEC Power Stars in 1994-1995, and by 1998 Michelle’s first victory came with WoodTrin at Junior Panorama. In 2011, Michelle captured the Medium Band Panorama title with Valley Harps. Michelle has also performed and conducted workshops in various parts of the worlds and has also served as a CXC Music examiner, and adjudicator at the National Song Festival, Junior Panorama, Junior Steelband Music Festival, T&T’s Panorama (single pan category), and the Antiguan Panorama competition.

THE “WOMEN IN PAN” TEAM
• Executive Producers: Mark Loquan & Maria Nunes
• Director & Editor: Maria Nunes
• Associate Producer: Caroline Taylor
• Interviewer: Attillah Springer

Click here to view all episodes of the “Women in Pan” series:    • Women in Pan Series (A Better Tomorrow)  

#ABetterTomorrow #WomenInPan #steelpan #steelband #trinidadandtobago