Kyree Wilson

It feels almost surreal that my full time career with CAFE is coming to an end. For the past decade, I have known nothing but steel pan. I remember my first day in CAFE when I joined the summer camp. Believe it or not back then I was not a very social person at first and found difficulty in making friends. I realized from an early age that I wouldn’t be carried to the top at this place. CAFE is not a place for the light. While they will treat you like family, respect is always earned. While I do occasionally play tenor, I am mainly known for playing the cello pan(and being the absolute best at it). During the cafe summer camp, when I first entered the music room and I had no knowledge on the roles each pan played within the band, my attention was immediately drawn to the cello and I have been attached ever since, with a goal of proving that I can be more than just in the background of a song and I can lead the band. Through hard work, I eventually made that happen. The first person I would like to thank is the person that made CAFE possible, Mrs. Lorna Green. Mrs. Green saw potential in me as soon as she met me and saw me play for the first time. When I was only in my second year of Rhythm Starters, I remember my mom telling me about a parent meeting that went on during cafe and Mrs. Green went on ranting about how upset she was that I was not in PV yet. I was beginning to have classes with the PV kids the next week. Whenever I needed someone to talk to, no matter how long and no matter the severity, Mrs. Green was always there. 

When I first joined PV, I had no idea what was in store for my future. I knew that I was going to be dealing with harder music but more importantly, I did not know that I would be making a family for life. I met my best friends through CAFE and that is one of the many things I will forever be grateful for. Without these hooligans and them teaching me their ways in causing havoc I don’t know if I would be the same person. While I love everyone in CAFE, the bonds I made with Jonathan, Jacob, and Lesalle are inseparable and I would not trade that for anything. Our competitive nature not only made us great friends and eventually family, but better bandmates as well as we always helped one another reach our goals and know we weren’t alone in the walk to greatness. I don’t want to take all the credit but since I have been in CAFE every band I performed with never got under a Gold Trophy at Virginia Beach and even won some cash on the side haha. 

Miss Josanne… words do not describe how much you have helped me in my CAFE career. As a performer, you always believed in me even when I did not believe in myself. You challenged me, you helped me, and most importantly you healed me when I was at my lowest. You worked the mess out of me in every piece you gave me and when I said I didn’t have it, you worked me to tears until I did. I’d say as a performer I came out pretty good and I have you to thank for it. 

To my dearest mother, I don’t think I have enough space on this bio to thank you enough. I remember a time in my early CAFE days when I wanted to give up. I wanted my Saturdays to be free again and I wanted to try other things. I am more than glad you did not take my words seriously and lifted me up because had you gone with what I said I’d miss out on a lifetime of opportunities. You have always been my number one fan and have come to almost every performance of mine even if it meant missing work because you knew how much playing pan meant to me. I love you forever and always because of the sacrifices you have made for me throughout my life and for not only being my mother but being my best friend as well. Wherever my future leads me I know I’ll always have you to lean on and vice versa.

To my entire CAFE family, although I am graduating, this is not the end. CAFE is a part of me that will never be forgotten nor taken away. To the Browne and Castro family, thank you for opening up your home to me and making me feel like an actual part of your family when you didn’t have to. To Mr. Trevor, thank you for opening up your home to me on your days off to educate me and prepare me for my SATs which have helped shaped my collegiate career, to Ms. Candice, thank you for teaching me how to play pan and showing me humility. To Mr. Domenic, Aviel, and Eljhaie, thank you for taking the time out of your days to help me grow as not just a musician but as a man as well while also trying to elevate my musical career further than I ever thought it could. To my bandmates, thank you for believing in me and putting up with my nonsense for the past decade. We won some major bling so I’d say it all worked out. To everyone in my CAFE family, thank you. I love you all, peace out.