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DESMOND ERNEST WAITHE
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| DATE OF BIRTH: |
... 1944 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: |
..., Trinidad |
| EDUCATION: |
Belmont Boys' Secondary School
Mausica Teachers’ College |
| STEELBAND: |
Nutones
Exodus
Renegades
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| SPECIALTY: |
Arranger |
| CAREER: Waithe was a musician, educator, and steelband music arranger. While at Mausica, he joined the college choir and formed the Chaconia Singers choir after he graduated. He later formed another choir, Stentor Choir and worked with the Marionettes Chorale. In 1987, Waithe arranged for the Nutones Steelband and made the Panorama Finals with Christopher “Tambu” Herbert's "This Party Is It." He later arranged classical music for Nutones and also worked with the Exodus Steelband. Beginning in 2007, Waithe worked for many years as the classical music director for the Renegades Steelband and took the band on many tours all around the world, including the largest classical music festival in France, La Folle Journee. Under his direction at La Folle Journee, Renegades acquired a world-renowned reputation for being leaders in classical music repertoires. He was a teacher for over 33 years at Belmont Boys' Secondary School and a lecturer at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT). Waithe also worked together with dancer Molly Ahye and toured the USA and Canada with her. Waithe combined with Pelham Goddard to take the Exodus Steelband to Steelband Music Festival wins in 1998, 2002, and 2005. The following is a summary of Waithe's shared success in the steelband Music Festival competition:
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AWARD:
- 1993 - Humming Bird Medal Silver (for Outstanding Contribution to Music in Trinidad & Tobago)
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| DIED: |
April 20, 2022, after a prolonged illness |
| Compiled by Ronald C. Emrit |
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