THE UNIVERSITY OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO’S (UTT) Academy for the Performing Arts (APA) is known as a hub of creativity and inventiveness, producing some of the most talented musicians and extraordinary performers.

Charlton Alfonso, graduate of UTT’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in the Performing Arts, has certainly lived up to the Academy’s prestigious reputation of strengthening the Caribbean identity towards confident artistic expression of Caribbean culture. Possessing a high level of theoretical and practical knowledge, Charlton was awarded the Les Trilla Graduate Assistantship Fund, a partial scholarship, to pursue a Masters in Steelpan Performance at the Northern Illinois University under the tutelage of the renowned Professor Liam Teague.

As a Graduate Assistant, Charlton describes the Masters programme as challenging him to be a better version of himself and credits UTT for providing an excellent foundation. In reflecting on his time at APA, Charlton has a deeper appreciation for the lessons and the many performances, stating, “in hindsight my experiences at UTT have served to shape me into the musician and the performer that I am today.” Furthermore, he excitedly shares, “Trinidad has a rich history of music and the steelpan of which we should be proud of, and I am constantly amazed by its breath and depth.”

Charlton is set to complete the Masters programme this year, and already has his sights on joining the academic fraternity, eventually ascending to the title of Professor of Music, specialising in the steelpan.

As he continues to hone his skill and craft becoming a master at the steelpan, Charlton believes that the future of the Performing Arts industry in Trinidad and Tobago is in great hands as more persons in the creative arts industry are becoming qualified through formal education.

The University of Trinidad and Tobago wishes Charlton all the best as he continues to pursue his dreams, and in so doing, place the University on the world stage.