Come together for Peace, Love and Pans at New Phila High School
By Victoria Frank
April 26, 2011
316
It will be peace, love and pans at New Philadelphia High Schools Panstock 2011 Steel Band Festival. The concert will be held Saturday, April 30, at 7 p.m., in the New Philadelphia High School gym and will feature two steel drum bands, as well as special guest and world-renowned pan artist Tracey Thornton.
Showcasing the steel bands of the high school, as well as Heavenly Metal Steel Drum Band, the audience will hear calypso and soca music, along with some swing-style and rock music, experiencing the tropical sounds of the pans, just in time for warm weather. Tracey Thornton will also perform some of her own original pieces.
This is our second annual Panstock concert, said Jeffrey Phillips, director for the steel drum groups. Last year was very successful and we appreciate the support from the community in continuing this endeavor of the steel drum program. Were looking forward to this program in particular.
According to Phillips, the steel drum concerts are not the typical high school band concert that people are used to seeing. An exciting moment in the festival will occur at the end, when all of the 100 steel drum performers will join together for a final number. The audience will be invited down to get an up-close look at the steel drums, while the performers play the finale.
A lot of individuals have never seen a steel drum up close, what it looks like inside and how its played, explained Phillips. We invite everyone to come down and take a look at the students who are performing. The festivals Ive been to, they seem to do that a lot, and the audience is really receptive to it.
The New Philadelphia High School students have been preparing for this concert since December, and this is the first year that the after-school steel drum program of 24 students will perform. Through fundraisers and a grant from the Reeves Foundation, the band raised $49,000 to expand the existing program.
Throughout the year, the department has been very busy with marching band in the fall, as well as the winter drumline competing at the WGI championships, placing third. The high school band will present their spring concert on Thursday, May 19, and the middle school band will host their own concert on Tuesday, May 24. Both spring concerts will be presented in the high school gym.
Once Panstock 2011 is over, the high school band will begin rehearsals for their upcoming trip to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii this December. The band was invited to perform at a commemorative event and will begin practicing three new pieces.
Tickets for Panstock 2011 will be sold at the door. Ticket prices are $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens and students under 18, while children 2 and under are free. Basket raffles will take place at the concert. Sponsorships are also available in $25, $50, $75, and $100 amounts. For more information, contact Jeffrey Phillips at 330-364-0683 or phillipsj@npschools.org.
