The steelpan communities in Trinidad & Tobago and Canada are mourning the passing of Joslynne Sealey.

She was the daughter of noted Trinidad folklorist, the late Andrew Carr. Sealey built an impressive musical career which started as a student at Trinidad’s Bishop Anstey High School. At the biennial 1968 T&T Music Festival, she won the First Operatic Class and emerged the overall Best Adult Soloist. In 1970, she was awarded a government scholarship to further her studies in Music/Performance Voice.
At Montreal’s McGill University, Sealey studied voice under Carmen Metha, former wife of renown Zubin Metha. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music and returned to Trinidad where she taught music at St Augustine School, and retired as music teacher at Bishop Anstey High in 1991.
She was Principal Soloist of the Trinidad Opera Company, appearing in popular operas The Marriage of Figaro, The Magic Flute, and Carmen.
She holds the distinction of being the first classically trained singer to record operatic arias with steelpan, the Trinidad AllStars steel Orchestra in 1979, 81,83. She accompanied All Stars at sold out performances at Toronto’s Massey Hall. She also performed in several cities in London, including Hyde Park
Given her considerable travelled experience, Sealey was a valuable source of information on the cultural and musical history of Trinidad. Her knowledge was accurate and extensive.
She was a regular visitor to Toronto where her daughter Alicia Sealey resides. During those visits, Sealey was a respected adjudicator at the Pan Alive competitions. She also conducted a musical workshop that is still remembered for the quality of the material she shared with the steelpan community.
According Wendy Jones, co-director of Pan Arts Network Canada, “Joslynne was a woman of class and knowledge that I and the steelpan looked up to. Whenever she had the opportunity to be in Toronto we all admired her wealth of knowledge she shared with us. She often came to either judge the Pan Alive Competition or to conduct a steelpan workshop. We had so many questions; she showed us ways in which to enhance the bands. Joslynne was a very fun person. I truly admired her professional learning and all that she shared with us over the many conversations I had with her in Toronto and Trinidad and Tobago. She will be sorely missed.”
Ian Jones, former secretary of Ontario Steel Association, concurs and adds, “She provided yeomen service in the Toronto pan community. She was knowledgeable, gracious and patient. She will be missed. I expect that her life will be celebrated during the upcoming Pan Alive competition that will be staged at Lamport Stadium on August 4th.”
Joslynne Sealey was born March 31st 1935 and died July 14 2023. She was 88. She will be interred in Trinidad on a date to be announced.