Northern
Illinois
University
(NIU)
Steelband
on stage
during
their
Spring
2010
concert
DeKalb,
Illinois
- From
Tchaikovsky
to Stevie
Wonder - the
NIU
Steelband
Concert did
not miss a
beat. Under
the
leadership
and
direction of
renowned steel panist
and
associate
professor
Liam Teague,
and
co-directed
by Clifford
Alexis,
the NIU Steelband
executed a
wide and
varied set
that
showcased
the
excellent
musicianship
of the NIU
ensemble.
The concert
was a huge
success both
in term of
musical
performances
and
technological
outreach.
The feedback
on the When
Steel Talks
(WST)
network
which also
carried the
web broadcast
live, was
extremely
positive.
Many steelpan
music fans
and people
in the
music
industry
watched the
show from
all over the
world.
Indeed, one
WST network
viewer was
so impressed
with the NIU
steelband
performance
that she
commented
that her son
now wants to
attend NIU.
Appropriately
named the
“Spring
World
Concert” the
event was
web-casted
live and free
around the
world in HD.
NIU has been
one of the
leading
music
institutions
in having
their
musical
performances
broadcast
over the
internet in
high
definition.
The two-hour
concert was held
in the Boutell
Memorial
Concert
Hall on the
NIU campus. The
event was
superbly
aired
without any
visible
hitches and/or
distractions. The live
video
switching
and camera angles
were
quite
adequate.
This year’s
Spring concert was
particularly
special as
tribute was
paid to
Lester Trilla. Mr. Trilla is
credited as
one of the
people
directly
responsible
for the
existence of
the NIU
Steelband. In addition,
Mr. Trilla
is directly
responsible
for many of
the NIU steelband
music
students
- including
Liam Teague
- being able
to achieve their
educational
dreams at
the
university. Mr. Trilla
was clearly
moved by the
tribute.
Mia
Gormandy
plays
the
P.H.I.
(Percussive
Harmonic
Instrument)
during
the NIU
Steelband
concert
Also on hand
was the
president of
Pan
Trinbago,
Keith
Diaz. Mr.
Diaz
expressed
his
appreciation
the work NIU
had done
over the
years in
furthering
the
popularity
of the steelpan
instrument.
He was
particularly
appreciative
of the
impact NIU
was having
in producing
Trinidad and
Tobago
graduates
like Seion
Gomez, Mia
Gormandy and
Liam Teague.
The second
half of the
concert
highlighted
a special
tribute to
Michael
Jackson with
a Liam
Teague
arrangement
of “Heal the
World.” Mr. Teague
said he
chose this
song to
honor Mr.
Jackson’s
memory,
because
of its
message of
togetherness
and beauty,
much the
same as that
of the steelpan
instrument. This
arrangement
also
featured Mia Gormandy
playing the
PHI
(Percussive
Harmonic
Instrument).
Acclaimed
violinist
and
assistant
professor
at NIU
Blaise
Magniere
accompanies
the NIU
Steelband
A joint classical arrangement lead by conductor Kenneth Joseph and featuring
guest
violinist,
the
highly
acclaimed
chamber
musician Blaise
Magniere,
received
high
accolades.
Magniere
performed
Violin
Concerto in
D major, Op.
35, by Pyotr Ilyich
Tchaikovsky.
Also on hand
was NIU
alumni Seion
Gomez who
joined the
band on
stage, as
they
performed
his
arrangement
of
“Dangerous”
written by
Mark Loquan
and Ken
“Professor” Philmore;
the
performance
received
rousing
applause.
The show
ended with a
special
collaboration
on Destra
Garcia’s “Rewind” that
featured a
brass
section in
tandem with
the steel
orchestra. The
ending
performance
brought the
crowd to its
feet
with a
standing
ovation.
The NIU
Steel Band
educational program has
successfully
put the steelpan
instrument
on the world
stage as no
other
institution
of higher
learning has
done.
Mr. Teague
announced
the
dates for
next year’s
performance
which are already
set.
And
additionally,
that he
added that
a steelband from
Ohio’s
University
of Miami
would be
performing
at the NIU
concert next
year.
Contact:
Liam Teague
at:
http://whensteeltalks.ning.com/profile/LiamTeague
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