Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra
Participant - World Festival,  New York 2005

The Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra was formed in June 1995, under the guidance of Warrant Officer Class 1 Earl Wright (deceased) and on the initiative of the former Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Carl C.A. Alfonso. The first leader of the steel orchestra was, Sergeant Cecil James (retired). The first major undertaking was in July of the same year, when the band participated in the National Pan Ramajay Competition, placing fifth out of ten finalist. In 1996 the orchestra entered the ‘Pan Is Beautiful’ Music Festival as a conventional band, and did quite well, winning the prize for the best calypso and placing third overall. The rest of the year was spent doing charity engagements both for service personnel and civilians. The year 1997 started off very successfully for the orchestra, with a first attempt at the National Panorama; competition for traditional steel orchestras, it placed first playing "Mirror Mirror", a tune composed by calypsonian "Crazy" and arranged by Eddie Qualees, a renowned musical arranger. In June of that year the orchestra was invited by the 33rd Regiment French Forces in the Antilles, to perform at their 1st anniversary celebrations in Martinique, this was the first in what has now become an annual event for the orchestra, having returned in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Between the years 1997 to 1999 the band participated in the St. Peter's Day competition in the Traditional Band category and achieved a hat-trick playing ‘Amazing Grace’, ‘What a Friend we have in Jesus’ and ‘Blessed Assurance’ respectively, all songs arranged by Robert Tobitt, a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra. As a result of the bands"' outstanding performance they were invited to perform at the internationally acclaimed Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 1997. The orchestra became the only marching military steel orchestra in the world, performing nightly before an audience of over ten thousand. The outcome was an outstanding success. The band also became the first steel orchestra to lead an armed contingent of troops on a ceremonial parade, when on it's return from Scotland it made it's first appearance on the annual Independence Anniversary Parade. More success came in 1998 when the orchestra having entered the Music Festival for a second time as a conventional band, emerged joint winners . In November 1999 the orchestra was invited to perform at the Anzac Military Tattoo in Sydney Australia, where it rendered another creditable performance. In the year 2000 the orchestra placed first in the National Panorama competition, again in the Traditional bands category, when it rendered ‘A Tribute to Aldwin Roberts’ The Lord Kitchener, a sure sign that the orchestra is indeed a force to recon with. In January 2002 the orchestra was invited to perform in Bremen Germany. There they performed before thousands with outstanding success. In 2002 the orchestra entered into the World Steelband music Festival where they placed fourth in the world. At present the management team of the band comprises of, Captain Peter Fletcher (Officer in Charge), Staff Sergeant Rolston Nicholls (Manager), Sargeant Kenneth DeBique (Public Relations), and Petty Officer Marlon Holder (Captain).