By Lincoln DePradine

The new head of the Ontario Steelpan Association (OSA), Terrence Wilson, says he has  “some definite ideas”   for developing the music artform, including the convening of a forum on pan.

“My first order of business is to organize a pan forum for members of the association, for players, for everybody, where they can come out and give us feedback,’’ Wilson told The Caribbean Camera. “We would want to hear from them what OSA should do; what OSA has done in the past that they like or didn’t like.’’

The forum, expected to be held in April, will also be used to recruit  new  members, said Wilson, a longtime association member, who was serving as treasurer until being chosen by the board of directors as president.

Wilson and five others – Tommy Crichlow, Michael H. Phillips, Edwin John, Carl Husbands and Salah Wilson – were appointed by acclaim as the OSA board of directors at the association’s recent annual general meeting (AGM).

In a series of by-law changes approved at the AGM, the OSA decided that “president’’, instead of “chairperson’’, now will be used as the title for the leader of the association.

Wilson, as president, leads an executive that includes John as vice president and Phillips as interim corporate secretary and registrar.

Edward Peters, as immediate past president, also sits on the board as an ex-officio director.

Wilson said that, as someone who is in constant contact with pan players, he intends to use his relationship with them to “build back their confidence in the association’’ and also to bring about greater unity among steel orchestras.

The OSA president said that he is determined to implement new initiatives and promised that the association will listen to the feedback of pannists and other stakeholders.

Wilson said one area of change that would be examined is in seeking funding and sponsorship to help bands prepare for the annual steelbands’ championship and ensure that the orchestras all have the necessary racks at the competition.

“We must always try to put out a quality show.  So the bands have to step up,’’ he  said