The Winifred Atwell Auditorium – A Tribute Fit for a Queen

On Monday, 23rd September, the vibrant sounds of boogie-woogie filled the prestigious Queen’s Hall and set the stage for a momentous occasion – the naming of The Winifred Atwell Auditorium. 

The lobby was transformed into a vibrant museum of memorabilia celebrating Atwell’s legacy, seamlessly interwoven with modern technology. Free standing digital displays at every corner exhibited newspaper articles, pictures and the like. A larger-than-life cutout of Atwell stood proudly next to a modest piano – the very piano Atwell used to rehearse for her initial Ivory and Steel concert. Original records including ‘The Plush Piano of Winifred Atwell’ and ‘Ivory & Steel: A New Dimension in Music’ elegantly displayed behind glass cases and velvet ropes, juxtaposed by a towering, interactive record display. A Hollywood-esque star inviting patrons to “Stand Hear” which played triggering the playback of some of Atwell’s popular songs. Every detail contributed to what was, without a doubt, an unforgettable and historic event.

In his welcome address and opening remarks, Chairman of Queen’s Hall Board, Dr. Helmer Hilwig gave an account of Atwell’s achievements and longstanding history with Queens Hall, as she returned to Trinidad in 1962 and 1964. He recalled that in 1969 she returned to produce the concert and album entitled ‘Ivory and Steel’ at Queen’s Hall, along with the Pan Am North Jet Stars, and became the first to marry the musical stylings of the piano and steelpan. He stated “it was so justified [that] the Prime Minister dusted off the name of Winifred Atwell and that we could work together and bring her back to life again.” 

The family of Winifred Atwell reinforced these sentiments with heartfelt remarks. Paternal cousin Helen Atwell-Koo shared that the family has upheld her legacy for over 30 years by passing on her love for music to the nation’s children through the Atwell’s Educational Institute. In her closing, Atwell-Koo highlighted Winifred’s “battered, out-of-tune, 50-shilling” piano—affectionately known as ‘the other piano’—as a symbol of how something ordinary can become extraordinary with the right vision, embodying the spirit of Trinbagonian ingenuity. Maternal cousin Hollis Thomas reiterated these feelings. When asked for a comment, responded, “We won’t say it’s overdue. We believe in ‘mas vale tarde que nunca’ – better late than never.”

Filmed presentations offered a respite from the formal proceedings. It featured a compilation of television clips, concert footage, and interviews, accompanied by a biographical narration that added depth and emotion to the evening. The true surprise came during the tribute: five-time Grammy Award-winning artist Sir Elton John revealed that the Trinidad-born pianist was his first idol and a key influence on his career. He congratulated Queen’s Hall and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on the dedication. 

Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Randall Mitchell highlighted the ministry’s vision of performance spaces as sanctuaries for creative expression, underscoring their mission to promote and preserve Trinidad and Tobago’s cultural heritage and identity for future generations. He praised Winifred Atwell as a trailblazer, who exemplified what it means to be a true Trinbagonian. Minister Mitchell concluded his address with “From today, this auditorium will bear the name of one of our most treasured and talented daughters of the soil and her legacy will be known, studied and emulated through generations of our own performing artistes in every performance, in every concert, and every act of creativity that graces this stage.” 

Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. The Honorable Keith Rowley opted for a lighthearted approach, as he shared a memory of his time as a child in Queen’s Hall, and of the name Winifred Atwell. He commended the Management and Board for the sheer magnitude of the event and effort undertaken,  he remarked, “Today, on this anniversary of our Republican status, this country can do no less than to rediscover a woman of class who recognized us and took us high, to the highest heights, before we knew ourselves.” 

True to Queen’s Hall’s innovative spirit, technology played a key role in the event. While Ministers, dignitaries, family members, and media were escorted to the lobby for the unveiling of the Dedication Plaque and Building Signature, seated patrons watched the ceremony via live stream, projected onto the cyclorama. 

The naming of the Winifred Atwell Auditorium reflects the socio-political climate in which the current government of Trinidad and Tobago is intentionally working to remove remnants of colonialism, while honoring the achievements of its own people. In a statement to the T&T Performing Arts Network, Lawrence Arjoon – Chief Executive Officer of the Heroes Foundation, and member of the Cabinet Appointed Committee to Review the Placement of Statues, Monuments, and Signage in Trinidad and Tobago, stated, “The naming of the Winifred Atwell Auditorium is a powerful statement of who we are and what we aspire to be as a nation. By visibly and prominently recognising our own heroes and achievers, we ensure that the values and vision embodied by figures like Winifred Atwell continue to shape and inspire future generations.” 

The formal proceedings of the evening was followed by the highly anticipated concert, ‘Ivory and Steel: The Revival,’ in the newly named Auditorium, and other performances by Xavier Strings, and Freetown Collective, in the Garden Theatre, as a tribute to Atwell’s enduring legacy in the world of music and culture. The National Steel Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Mia Gormandy-Benjamin, represented the steel component of the concert, while pianists Alan Cooper, Chantal Esdelle, and Sean Sutherland provided the ivory. The ensemble performed classical pieces from the album, including “Malaguena,” “Blue Tango,” and “Rhapsody in Blue,” infused with a distinct Trini flair, reviving not just the music, but the spirit of Winifred Atwell.