UA Steel Drum Band mixing Caribbean, classical and John Lennon for April 5 concert
Caribbean, classical and a little John Lennon will mix musically spring when The University of Akron Steel Drum Band performs Saturday, April 5, 8 p.m., at E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall, 198 Hill St., on the UA campus.
A big-screen "pan cam" — a popular feature of the band's annual spring concerts — will put the audience in the middle of the vibrant sights and sounds. This year’s guest artist is Khan Cordice, a steel pan musician, arranger and composer from Antigua.
Tickets are available in advance and at the door. Regular-price tickets are $22 for reserved seating. Discount tickets are $20 for seniors and UA faculty and staff, and $11 for all students. For tickets and event information, call the Thomas Hall Ticket Office at 330-972-7570 or visit UAevents. Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster. Discount tickets available only through the Thomas Hall Ticket Office.
The UA Steel Drum Band is celebrating its 34th year. The band was one of the first collegiate steel bands in the United States when it was created in 1980 by Professor Larry Snider of the UA School of Music. Since then the band has grown in size to feature more than two dozen student musicians and has become a favorite at Akron’s First Night and throughout the region. The band has also performed at Blossom Music Center, opening for the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, the Cincinnati Pops and the Cleveland Orchestra.
Snider continues to lead the band and the Percussion Studies Program in The University of Akron School of Music, and Matt Dudack is the band's artistic director. This year's student musicians include:
- Jacob Brady, undergraduate student from Akron
- Dillon Bolon, undergraduate student from Gnadenhutten
- Colin Dees, graduate student from the University of Southern Mississippi
- Matt Diehl, undergraduate student from Orrville
- Matt Edick, undergraduate student from Akron
- Joseph Fox, undergraduate student from Cleveland Heights
- Austin Ferguson, undergraduate student from Brilliant
- Blaine Klein, undergraduate student from Canton
- Neil Lantry, undergraduate student from Stow
- Emily Larson, undergraduate student from Pickerington
- Tyler Mashek, undergraduate student from Tallmadge
- Calvin Miller, undergraduate student from Akron
- Josh Minhinnick, undergraduate student from Columbus
- Jonathan Monacelli, undergraduate student from Mentor
- Jordan Morrison, graduate student from Malone University
- Stephen Neal, undergraduate student from Jackson Township
- Noah Roberts, undergraduate student from Akron
- David Singhaus, undergraduate student from Dover
- Louis Turndick III, undergraduate student from Akron
- Shelby Waters, undergraduate student from Newark
- Cameron Weichman, undergraduate student from Ravenna
- David Wolf, undergraduate student from Louisville
Media contact: Cyndee Snider, 330-972-5196 or cyndee@uakron.edu.
Khan Cordice of Antigua is the guest artist for the April 5 concert by The University of Akron's Steel Drum Band.