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Neville York, one of the most recognized steel drum players in the world explained that the Arts in the Plaza festival is very important to St. Maarten. "From a cultural perspective, it gives the artist a venue to express something that it cannot express at a bar, for example. So it is not music that you are going to be hearing at a bar or nightclub. This is truly an evening where artists can express themselves in the purest form that is most true to themselves," he said. Neville York is one of the top 10 steel drum (pan) players in the world. He performs with symphony orchestras in Holland and Europe and uses Marshall Vente's "Tropicale" as his band. Neville is a native of St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles and a graduate of Northern Illinois University. Over the last three years Neville has performed with Marshall in Chicago and also in St. Maarten. The St. Maarten Arts in the Plaza event is free and open to the public. The festival will continue into 2011 with new performances and exhibits each month scheduled for January 19, February 16, March 16, April 20 and May 18. A complete listing of featured artists will be announced prior to each event at http://www.portocupecoy.com. Orient Express Hotels, La Samanna Resort, Porto Cupecoy and Dom Perignon Champagne are sponsoring the festival. For more information, visit http://stmaartenlife.com