Ouachita presents Steel Band in concert Dec. 8

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December 02, 2021 - Emma Dennis

Ouachita Baptist University’s Division of Music will present the Steel Band in concert Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 8 p.m. in Jones Performing Arts Center. The concert is free and open to the public.

“Each year, the steel bands choose one famous calypsonian (calypso singer) from Trinidad and perform multiple songs by that artist,” said Dr. Ryan Lewis, associate professor of music at Ouachita, adding that this year’s calypsonian is Aldwyn Roberts, known by the stage name Lord Kitchener. “He is known for his calypso songs about steel drums, playing steel drums and Panorama, the national steel band competition in Trinidad and Tobago.”

During the concert, there will be a “Pan Cam” being broadcast live to the back wall of the stage so the audience will be able to see inside the instruments and watch students play them up close.

Songs on the program include “Jump in the Line” by Harry Belafonte; “Conga” by Gloria Estefan; “Power” by Cliff Alexis; “Carol of the Bells” by Mykola Leontovych; “Take On Me” by Pat Waaktaar, Morten Harket and Magne Furuholmen; and “Pan Here to Stay,” “Tay Lay Lay” and “The Bee’s Melody” by Aldwyn “Lord Kitchener” Roberts.

“I hope that the audience will relax, put their cares and worries aside for a few minutes and simply enjoy some fun and entertaining music,” Dr. Lewis said. “As musicians we sometimes forget that often the most important thing we can do for an audience is make them smile!”

The concert will be livestreamed at livestream.com/obu, which is also available on the Livestream app. For more information, contact Dr. Ryan Lewis at lewisr@obu.edu or (870) 245-5421.

Photo by Danielle Sourber