Ouachita to present inaugural Tiger Steel Drum Ensemble concert April 16
April 10, 2013 - Ryleigh Salmon
Ouachita Baptist University will host the Tiger Steel Drum Ensemble’s inaugural concert
Tuesday, April 16, at 7:30 p.m. in Mabee Fine Art Center’s McBeth Recital Hall. The
performance is free and open to the public.
Tiger Steel is “something unique and enjoyable for the Ouachita and Arkadelphia communities,”
said Dr. Ryan Lewis, assistant professor of music and director of Tiger Steel. “Steel
drums are the national folk music instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, where many traditionally
learn and perform by rote.”
Lewis directed the Steel Drum Band at Florida State University and wanted to create
a group at Ouachita. With the support of Dr. Wesley Kluck, vice president for student
services, he formed the group in partnership with the Clark County Boys and Girls
Club.
Arkadelphia is home to two steel bands, one at Ouachita and the other at Goza Middle
School, directed by Aaron Seel. “In order to be a member of Tiger Steel, students
mentor at least one hour per week at the Boys and Girls Club where they can help the
other steel band members with their parts, play sports, help with homework, play video
games, whatever the students need that day,” Lewis said.
Tiger Steel isn’t comprised solely of music majors. “Of the 13 current members, fewer
than half are music majors,” Lewis noted. Members include: Erin Cheshire, Chris Hogan,
Cory Thackston and John David Whitmore on tenor pan; Leslie Colbert, Carter Harlan,
Kristen Liles and Natalie Williams on double seconds; Ian Olmsted, Cody Osborn, Ben
Lange-Smith and Sara Williams on guitars and cello; and Tori Clark on bass pans. Olmsted
and Osborn also perform on drum set.
The program will include “Jamaican Farewell” and “Jump in the Line (Shake, Shake,
Shake Sonora)” by Harry Belafonte; the traditional calypso tune “Marianne”; “Under
the Sea” from Disney’s The Little Mermaid; “Oye Como Va” by Carlos Santana; “Watermelon Man” by Herbie Hancock featuring guest
soloists Dr. Craig Hamilton, OBU’s Lena Goodwin Trimble Professor of Music and director
of bands, on trumpet and Dr. Sim Flora, professor emeritus of music, on trombone,
professor emeritus of music; and a funk tune, “Sunset.”
“Audience members will hear familiar songs with infectious beats that make them smile,”
Lewis said. “And if Steel Band music can do nothing else, it can bring joy to others.”
Tiger Steel also will perform a joint concert with the Boys and Girls Club Steel Band
in Ouachita’s Jones Performing Arts Center on May 2 at 7 p.m. Auditions for the fall
will be held Tuesday, Aug. 20, at 11 a.m. and will consist of simple rhythms and melodies.
No music reading or experience is required.
For more information on the Tiger Steel or to book the group for an event, contact
Dr. Ryan Lewis at [email protected] or (870) 245-5421.
By Ryleigh Salmon
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