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Steel Pan Musical Extravaganza Set for April 20

Mon, 04/17/2023 - 09:08am | By: Dr. Mike Lopinto

The ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Miss Steel Pan Orchestra (SoMiSPO) and world-renowned guest artist Andy Narell will present Sea of Stories: A Steelpan Musical Extravaganza. This program, which is being jointly presented by the University of ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Mississippi (²ÝÁñÉçÇø) and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC), brings the exciting rhythms and lyric melodies of Calypso and Soca music to the Coast. 

The highly anticipated concert will take place at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s state-of-the-art Immersive Media Performing Arts Center (iMPAC) at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 20. The concert is free and open to the public.

Andy Narell has been a leader in America’s steel pan music for nearly fifty years. His eclectic skillset and innovations have garnered international acclaim as a composer, performer, and producer. His music can be heard in movies, such as The Firm and PAN – Our Music Odyssey, as well as television shows and popular commercials. As a bandleader and soloist, he has played hundreds of concerts and jazz festivals throughout the USA, Canada, Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, South America, and Africa. Narell and SoMiSPO have collaborated frequently in performance and recorded an album together.

The ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Miss Steel Pan Orchestra is under the direction of its founder, Dr. John Wooton, professor of the ²ÝÁñÉçÇø School of Music. Wooton founded SoMiSPO in 1994 as a small, six pan ensemble. Now, the group features over 30 musicians and is a staple in the region’s arts and culture. They have collaborated with artists such as Victor Provost, Ellie Mannette, Liam Teague, Ray Holman, Tom Miller, Jeff Narell, Gary Gibson, Gregory Boyd, and the Navy Steel Band.

So, what are steel pans? They are pitched percussion instruments made from 55-gallon industrial drums. Created in Trinidad, the steelpan’s pitches are sounded by striking its rings with a rubber-tipped mallet. While the instrument is only about 80 years old, it has rapidly grown in popularity.

Calypso music originated in Trinidad and Tobago in the mid-19^th Century before quickly spreading throughout the Caribbean. The highly rhythmic style features traditional melodies and a driving feel. Soca music, which is influenced by East Indian rhythms, was developed by Lord Shorty in the 1970s to revive Calypso music in Trinidad. While Soca is an offshoot of Calypso, they have distinct differences in feel and influence.

This unique experience of world-class steel pan performance is sure to excite everyone from young music lovers to seasoned percussionists. Again, this free concert will take place at 7:00 PM on Thursday, April 20^th. Sea of Stories is brought to you by the ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Ambassador Series, which is a cultural outreach project of the ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Miss Gulf Park Campus

Please visit the ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Ambassador Series website for more information

About Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

The mission of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is to meet the educational and community needs in George, Harrison, Jackson, and Stone counties by providing superior instruction through traditional and technological formats to offer workforce pathways, certificates, diplomas, and associate transfer and applied degrees. The College embraces lifelong learning, productive citizenship, service learning, and leadership development in a dynamic and innovative learning environment.