Members of the Canboulay Band travelled to the Virginia Beach Arts Festival to participate in their 6th annual PANorama. On Friday May 9th students had the opportunity to work in a close setting with some of the best known pannists and composers in the world, Liam Teague, Tom Miller and Phil Hawkins. On Saturday the band performed in front of a panel of judges and received a gold rating (the equivalent of a superior) for their performance of Camille Saint Saens' "Danse Bacchanale" from Samson et Delilah, "Seasons of Love" from Rent, and Amrit Samaroo's "The Challenge is Minor." The band was also selected as the event's Grand Champion, distinguishing it as the best of the twenty bands who performed.

Students also had the pleasure of seeing other bands from around the country perform, including high school bands from Georgia and Ohio and community bands from Connecticut and Virginia. Miami University and Eastern Kentucky University steel bands also performed with guest artists Andy Narell, Liam Teague and Phil Hawkins, showcasing some great original compositions for steel band.

Danse Bacchanale, from Samson et Delilah

Seasons of Love, from Rent

The Challenge is Minor

Our second annual dinner concert and auction will be held Wednesday April 9th at 6:30pm at the Civic Center. The event promises to be a wonderful evening of entertainment showcasing all the Lion Steel bands. There will also be several great items available for auction, including some old steel drums that have been converted into coffee tables by local artists, summer beach house rentals, and more, so be sure to bring your check books! For tickets, please contact David Knapp at 488-1971 ext.2150, or by email at knappd@leonperformingarts.org.

In the meantime, the Tallahassee Democrat wrote an article about our program and fundraising event. Check it out here!

On Sunday March 16th, Lion Steel students John Frank and Shawn Fassig travelled to Pensacola to work in Alan Coyle's pan shop. During their shift the students learned to burn pans, grind the drum faces, and clean and prime their surfaces. John and Shawn also helped to build Leon's new guitar pans, arriving in May.

Eleven members of Lion Steel performed for the Florida Bandmasters Association district solo and ensemble on Saturday February 16th. Solos were performed by Carly Klein, J.S. Bach's Courante, and Shawn Fassig, Darren Duerden's Fantasy Variations. A trio comprised of Jordan Leubkemann, Natalia Smirnova and Derek Jones performed Manuel de Falla's Ritual Fire Dance. Finally a septet with Julia Hennessy, Shawn Fassig, Megan Moran, David Kennell, Adam Gilroy, Keegan Nugent and John Frank performed Darren Dyke's Fall From Grace. All performances received superior ratings. Following districts, performers will continue to state solo and ensemble in April. This is only the second year that pan has been allowed to perform for solo and ensemble. Last year was the first, with members of Lion Steel performing Tom Miller's Joe's Melody Boys.

On Saturday February 2, members of Lion Steel student and adult bands met in their panyard to watch Trinidad and Tobago's panorama finals via internet broadcast. It is also reported that Mr. Knapp earned $1.25 from betting on Phase II Pan Groove.

Come check out Lion Steel's fall concert this Tuesday December 4th at 7 pm in the Leon High School auditorium. Musical selections will include soca and calypso from the caribbean, as well as latin, pop and new music composed for pan. Cost is $5 for adults and free for high school students.

Canboulay 2008

Jouvert 2008

Congratulations to new members of Lion Steel's Canboulay and Jouvert bands.

Members of Lion Steel received a superior rating at state on Tuesday with the tune Joe's Melody Boys by Tom Miller. This marks the first time in history pan has been allowed in the Florida Bandmasters Association festival. Members also competed at the district level and January, where they were awarded a superior rating.

On Friday Lion Steel's Canboulay Band performed for the annual music educators' state conference in Tampa, FL. The audience was entertained by a variety of music for pan, including Aaron Copland's Hoe Down, Paul Ross' Pan Hip, Gnarles Barkley's Crazy, and an arrangement of Franz Schubert's Erlkonig. The band fit right in with the topic of this year's conference, which was diversity and multicultural music education.