For over three decades, Toronto-based financial advisor Antonio Maestre has sustained the vibrant sounds of Trinidadian Christmas through his musical ensemble Maestre and Friends. The 62-year-old founder has transformed his childhood memories of St. Augustine, Trinidad, into a cultural mission that brings authentic parang music to Caribbean communities across Canada.
Maestre’s connection to parang runs generations deep. His grandfather, Luis de León, was a celebrated parang legend documented in Daphne Pawan Taylor’s book ‘Parang of Trinidad.’ Growing up in a household where music flowed naturally, Maestre began performing professionally at 17 with local bands Los Alumnos and later Los Niños de Dios, mastering the cuatro and guitar while developing as a lead vocalist.
The journey to Canadian cultural preservation began in 1988 when Maestre migrated at 24. Despite drastic climate adjustments and cultural differences, he immediately joined La Petite Musical, a folk group performing seasonal parang. His collaboration with fellow Trinidadian Lionel Herbert eventually led to forming Maestre and Friends, now in its 14th year of operation.
The ensemble features eight to ten predominantly Trinidadian musicians performing with traditional instruments including cuatro, maracas, bass guitar, percussion, box bass, and surprisingly incorporated steelpan. Their repertoire balances classic pieces like Daisy Voisin’s ‘Alegría’ with popular soca parang hits such as Scrunter’s ‘Madame Jeffrey’ and Baron’s ‘Spanish Woman’.
Introducing parang to Canadian audiences required cultural education. ‘We had to explain this is an annual Trinidadian tradition,’ Maestre noted, contrasting parang with conventional caroling. The group adapted the traditional house-to-house parang into concentrated gatherings where ‘you go to one house for the night and everybody invites their friends over – it’s like a big party.’
Their performances have expanded from intimate gatherings to significant venues including the Trinidad and Tobago High Commissioner’s office in Ottawa and the Consulate in Toronto. They’ve shared stages with iconic soca parang artists including Scrunter, Crazy, and Baron.
The band now navigates generational evolution within the genre, with Maestre’s son Miguel incorporating stronger soca parang influences and recently releasing Carnival tracks. While the elder Maestre transitions to mentoring roles, he remains dedicated to preserving parang’s religious foundations as a devout Catholic who values the music’s spiritual narratives of Christ’s birth.
Despite member transitions and evolving musical preferences within the diaspora community, Maestre and Friends continues to adapt while maintaining core traditions. Future plans include regular seasonal performances and potential recording projects, all aimed at keeping the parang flame alive for generations to come.