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NIU and Miami University (Ohio) Steelbands rock the house in concert

Northern Illinois Steelband and the Miami University (Ohio) Steelband at NIU's Spring 2011 Concert in Dekalb, Illinois
Northern Illinois Steelband and the Miami University (Ohio) Steelband at NIU’s Spring 2011 Concert in DeKalb, Illinois

Illinois, USA - NIU (Northern Illinois University) Steelband continues to remain at the forefront of steel ensemble performances as they added a new twist to their annual Spring Concert for 2011.  This year the Miami University (Ohio) Steelband, under the direction of Dr. Chris Tanner was also featured. The two orchestras gave a very varied repertoire, both singly and as a combined band, that covered both Caribbean and popular style music at the venue, the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall in NIU’s Music building.  

Northern Illinois Steelband (NIU) at their Spring 2011 Concert in DeKalb, Illinois
Northern Illinois Steelband (NIU) at their Spring 2011 concert

The Miami University (Ohio) Steel Band was founded in 1994 with a complement of ten players and six instruments. Under the leadership of founder and director Chris Tanner, the program has grown to encompass two separate ensembles with a combined enrollment of over sixty members, and twenty-five university-owned instruments. The ensemble is one of the most active in the Cincinnati area, performing over twenty times annually in settings ranging from school outreach programs to guest appearances with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. The goal of the Miami University Steel Band is to present excellent performances of quality literature in the steel band idiom, with a special emphasis on original music by contemporary composers.

Miami University (Ohio) Steelband at NIU's Spring 2011 concert
Miami University (Ohio) Steelband at NIU’s Spring 2011 concert

The orchestras opened the show performing together Len “Boogsie” Sharpe’s Ashley (composed by Sharpe for his daughter) as arranged by Liam Teague, and followed up with Miami University performing Lord Kitchener’s “Flag Woman” and a Jason Koontz piece called Sophia.  Al Jarreau’s We’re In This Love Together as arranged by NIU Steelband co-director Clifford Alexis, (also builder and tuner for the orchestra), was well executed.

Cornelius Johnson, tenor, accompanied by the NIU Steelband
Cornelius Johnson, tenor, performs accompanied by the NIU Steelband

In the second half of the show the audience was able to experience the full versatility of the family of Steelpan instruments as the NIU orchestra accompanied Cornelius Johnson, tenor, for both E Lucevan le Stelle from “Tosca” and Nessun Dorma from “Turandot” with Al O’Connor as guest conductor.  It was the turn next of the popular Dr. Ronnie Wooten to take on the role of guest conductor as he guided the orchestra through Danse Bacchanale.  NIU completed their second and final set for the evening with an NIU standard - Colours Again (written by M. Loquan, J. Feveck and K. Boodoosingh) as arranged by the orchestra’s co-director Liam Teague.  Mia Gormandy who delivered her very successful graduate steelpan recital the previous evening, was on stage in the front line line-up alongside Teague.

Mia Gormandy alongside Liam Teague
Mia Gormandy alongside Liam Teague
Dr. Chris Tanner, director of the Miami University (Ohio) Steelband
Dr. Chris Tanner, director of the Miami University (Ohio) Steelband

Chris Tanner and the Miami University (Ohio) Steelband rejoined NIU on stage for a joint funky rendition of Earth, Wind & Fire’s Let’s Groove Tonight.  Then, in closing, Teague noted that steelband shows such as the NIU pringg concert generally roused the audience at the end with an upbeat and stimulating rendition of choice.  But given the disturbing and ongoing trend of unrest around the world, Teague shared that a discussion between him and Clifford Alexis led to a decision instead to leave all involved, both players and audience, with the thoughtful and poignant John Lennon classic, Imagine.

Northern Illinois Steelband and the Miami University (Ohio) Steelband at NIU's Spring 2011 Concert in Dekalb, Illinois
NIU Steelband and the Miami University (Ohio) Steelband at NIU’s Spring 2011 concert

NIU hosts two major steelband concerts annually and the dates are already set for the next two.  The Fall 2011 concert is carded for November 20, and the 2012 Spring concert for April 22.

 

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