The junior arm of the Sagicor Exodus Steel Orchestra, Exocubs, has copped first place in the Indigenous Instruments category at the 38th International Youth & Music Festival in Vienna, Austria. .
The annual event, which took place this year from July 11 to 14, brings together orchestras and music ensembles from around the world to compete at the invitation of Austria's Association of International Cultural Exchange. Attending the festival with support from the RBTT Education Foundation, Exocubs won with its rendition of Tchaikovsky's Marche Slave and the Mighty Sparrow's The Slave.
Robert de Silva, chairman of the RBTT Education Foundation, and president, RBTT Bank Eastern Caribbean, commended the group on its performance and noted the benefits of an experience of this magnitude. "Exocubs had the opportunity to perform on the world stage and witness superlative performances by other young people around the globe," said de Silva. "This is the kind of exposure that encourages our young people to believe in themselves and what they can achieve, and motivates them to aspire to even greater things."
Since its inception in 2000, Exocubs has developed an impressive r�sum�. The group won the Junior Panorama and Junior Steelpan Festival titles twice between 2001 and 2005; copped the 2004 World Senior Steelband Festival title and, in 2006 and 2008, hosted Exo-llence I and II, a concert showcasing the group's repertoire. Individuals within the group have also performed well, winning solo, duet, and quartet titles at the 2000 and 2002 World Senior Steelpan Festival; the 2001, 2003 and 2005 Junior Steelpan Festival; and the 2003 Caribbean Junior Steelpan Championship. Exocubs comprises approximately 100 boys and girls ranging in age from five to 21.