WAYNE JAGDEO

Mr Wayne Jagdeo is the manager and leader of Los Alumnos De San Juan Parang Band.

He joined the band in1987 and has been with them ever since. 

He said that he got involved in Parang by accident. He grew up in an area where there was no Parang in the community, but he always loved it. He was a pan player and and worked as a teacher at San Juan Secondary Comprehensive School. He taught Physics to children who were basically illiterate. His philosophy of education was that it was a transmission of culture. He believed that the most important goal he had as an educator, was to help his charges begin to believe in themselves and to find a way to help them to build and improve their self-esteem.

Wayne was involved in in the steel band in his school. He started a band but came from a workshop one weekend to be greeted by a notice that the band was no more. The Parang side was active in the school, so he took his pan and joined in 1987.

He always had a passion for excellence and as a result, when he got involved in the school's Parang band, he began making observations, suggestions and changes. He realized that the group was just playing music and he felt that, as an educator, he had to help it become more than that.

At the end of his first year in the group, the name was changed from 'Los Alumnos' to 'Los Alumnus De San Juan'. He saw the potential of the band and devoted his efforts and energies into making the band what it is today.

Mr Jagdeo is the holder of the Presidents medal of Excellence in Teaching. He is one of the few persons in Trinidad to posses such an honour. His dedication to excellence is seen not only in the field of Parang, but is reflected in all areas of his life.