Julie Williams has devoted 38 years of her life to the Republic Bank Exodus steel orchestra, setting foot on the St Augustine compound for the first time as a member when she was a form two student at St George’s College in Barataria.
“I played pan at school, but it wasn’t enough and I wanted more, so my mother took me to Exodus,” she told WMN. She plays the cello pan and tenor bass.
“But I’m always a cello player,” she said with a laugh.
Almost four decades have seen Williams spending countless hours in the panyard while also completing her secondary and tertiary education, and starting a career and family. She is the mother of three, and a manager at Republic Bank’s credit card centre.
Almost four years ago she was elected captain of the orchestra – a role she takes as seriously as her maternal and professional duties.
“I am the longest-serving female member of Exodus, and as a woman, this means a lot, especially when you know that some men have their own views of women giving them instructions.”
[caption id="attachment_891176" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Almost four years ago Julie Williams was elected captain of Republic Bank Exodus steel orchestra – a role she takes as seriously as her maternal and professional duties. - Marvin Hamilton[/caption]
When she joined the band she met foundation member Sharon Mc Liesh and a number of other women, who eventually moved on. Williams stayed.
“It feels great to be captain of something in which you grew up. It’s very close to my heart because I love pan and I love Exodus. Captain or not, though, it just feels good to grow up in and belong to a band that has achieved so many things.”
Williams said as captain it is her duty to motivate players, do administrative work, make sure the band has a good showing, keep the players as happy as possible because “happy players give a good outcome, and to make sure we keep that family-like environment.” She said the ultimate goal is to always work towards the greater good of Exodus.
The job is not all wine and roses, but Williams prefers to focus on the triumphs rather than the challenges. For her, among the most memorable of Exodus’s accomplishments was preparing the children’s band, Exocubs, for a trip to Argentina in 2012 and seeing them perform there.
Another, she said, was the firm stand the band took in 2019, when Pan Trinbago tried to prevent it from changing its it tune from SuperBlue’s Rag Storm to Kees Dieffenthaller’s Savannah Grass in the Panorama finals.
“We went to court and we won.”
[caption id="attachment_891175" align="alignnone" width="1024"] As the band’s captain, Julie Williams wants to see Republic Bank Exodus steel orchestra lift the national Panorama trophy again under her watch. PHOTOS BY MARVIN HAMILTON - Marvin Hamilton[/caption]
Her personal mission is to lead the orchestra to winning the national Panorama title again. Exodus has won the title four times – in 1992, 2001, 2003 and 2004.
“One o
