Alicia Jaggasar is the vivacious and personable composer, lead singer/cuatro player/board member of the nine-time and currently reigning parang champions Los Alumnos de San Juan. She is the 11-time and reigning parang queen of T&T.
A former insurance agent, Jaggasar started her singing career at the age of five performing all types of music from calypso to reggae, jazz, spirituals, Latin styles and even classics. Upon entering school, she won many singing competitions with compositions on social issues.
Composing and singing Spanish songs to promote peace, love and unity led to her being featured on four albums—Cantando Gloria and Es Navidad, Expreciones de Amor, Expressions of Love and La Dedicacion. At present, she is recording her fifth compact disc titled La Promesa, The Promise, and her Latin CD.
In 2012 she was a winner at the National Song Competition with her song titled Diamonds in the Sun as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of our Independence. Her love for the parang art form has seen her conduct research on the origin of parang music and on the stalwarts of the genre.
She has taught parang music to schools including St Jude’s Home for Girls; Newtown Boys’ RC; Newtown Girls’ RC; Sacred Heart Girls’ RC; San Juan Girls’ Government; San Juan Boys’ RC; Arima Girls’ RC; Barataria Girls’ RC; St Joseph Convent, St Joseph; El Dorado East Secondary; and Mt Hope Secondary. She also enjoys playing the tenor steelpan.
Jaggasar has represented T&T as a cultural ambassador on many occasions, the latest being in Budapest, Hungary, at the World Music Expo (WOMEX) in October 2015. She has also been to Puerto Rico, Cuba, Panama, Seattle/Washington and Austin/Texas, and performed at the opening ceremony of the 5th Summit of the Americas held in Trinidad in April 2009, for a foreign contingent which included President Obama.
The talented Jaggasar has also added to her list of achievements finalist in Scouting for Talent, Prime Minister Best Village Trophy Best Female Vocalist, 3rd Place National Calypso Queen, 2nd place Stars of Tomorrow Calypso Show, and San Juan Calypso Monarch.
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: I grew up in Sun Valley Road, Lower Santa Cruz.
At what schools/institutions did you receive your education, including primary?
Bourg Mulatresse RC School; Mt Hope Junior Secondary School; San Juan Secondary Comprehensive; Venezuelan Institute; Music Grade 4 private; currently at UTT.
Who have been the biggest early influences in your life? Tell us about your inspiration and encouragement to do the type of “work” you do.
My natural love for music has brought me to enjoying and loving the music and voices of Daisy Voisin, Gloria Alcazar, Henry Perreira, Carmilita Thomas-Williams, Lara Brothers and Sharlene Flores locally. Internationally, I have spent many hours romancing with the music and voice of Juan Luis Guerra, my favourite singer. With my God-given talent these people have influenced who I have become musically along with composers and arrangers Wayne Jagdeo, Desmond Waithe, Julio Torres and Jose Hernandez.
Which of your work(s) do you rate as the most satisfying and memorable?
The work that I do is inspired by God and encouraged by family, friends and supporters. My love for sharing, especially with the youths, drives me to continue. Seeing my students excel beyond my teaching gives me the strength to continue. Seeing them perform after working hard are the most satisfying and memorable moments.
Of all your shows, concerts, performances, which would you like a first-time audience, listener or viewer to experience?
That performance will be our 2010 performance at the National Parang Competition where we did the Hallelujah Chorus parang-style, arranged by Pat Bishop before her passing. We won.
What daily motto/credo do you live by?
Never try to be someone else, “they are already...”
What was the most difficult decision you ever had to make?
To work eight to four in one place or teach many schools, reaching many children, and do my music. I chose the latter, definitely was the most difficult decision.
What is your favourite pastime/interest/hobby outside of performing/playing?
Spending time with my family…listening to my son and daughter telling me stories and giving me slangs and trying to outsmart me with their logic is definitely my favourite pastime.
What goals and or ambitions do you still have? What are your ‘parang’ plans for the future?
The completion of my Latin fusion CD, performing on the same stage with Juan Luis Guerra, and touring the world promoting our parang music and my country, T&T.
If you could interview or dine with anyone alive or not, who would it be, why and what question would you be eager to ask?
I did not have the opportunity to meet and know Daisy Voisin. I wish that I had the opportunity to ask her what inspires her, for I love singers who sing from the heart, it is manifested in their singing. I will ask this to see if we have similar answers, for everyone tells me I remind them of the great Daisy.
Where do you see the future of parang and the parang movement?
Completion of The Los Alumnos de San Juan Parang Institute where children from all around the country can come to learn of the tradition parang. With God’s guidance under my watch, parang will be on every stage around the world. T&T will be hosting international festivals inviting many countries with similar music. Every school will teach the traditions of parang and form parang groups.
Which are your favourite pieces of parang music other than your own?
A la Media Noche—Daisy; Gloria en el Cielo—Henry Perriera; La Santa Biblia—Sharlene Flores.
Of all your accolades, prizes and awards which do you rate as extremely special?
Having parang showcased at SWSW 2015 and WOMEX 2015. Having parang featured in a calypso tent at Carnival Barrack Yard Tent Experience by Kurt Allen. Our 2012 winning performance in the national parang competition. Definitely a performance I myself will love to experience. Being honoured in the national junior parang competition was definitely my most accomplished moment.
What is an interesting facet of your personality that most people do not know about you?
People don’t know I hate being noticed, strange...but I prefer to stay in the back and sing and play with the musicians.
What is the best compliment you have every received?
One night I came off stage and a man approached me with tears in his eyes saying, “‘Your singing filled my heart and brought tears of joy to my eyes, thank you.’” Best thing I ever heard.
What advice would you give to young peope of T&T?
To yourself be true, and to those who mean the most to you be true.
Describe yourself in two words one beginning with A, the other with J, your initials.
Always Joyful.