Mission Accomplished! NYU Steel Goes Big Time - Panorama Comes to New York University

New York, New York, USA -  There is very little that When Steel Talks can say about NYU Steel that we haven’t already said over the years since its inception in 2007 - except maybe, mission accomplished.

Born out of the vision of NYU percussion department chairman Professor Jonathan Haas and realized under the directorship of Josh Quillen, NYU Steel has begun to achieve its full potential. After all, steelpan music performance studies is mandatory for all New York University percussion majors at the respected Music and Performing Arts Professions Program in Percussion Studies. Couple that with the fact that NYU is located in the backyard of some of the largest and best steel orchestras outside of Trinidad and Tobago, the originator of the steelpan family of instruments.

NYU Steel performs during their Spring 2014 concert at the Frederick Loewe Theatre on the NYU campus

This fortuitous location provides NYU students the opportunity to rub shoulders and interact with the Brooklyn orchestras and members. This past Summer NYU Steel made a guest appearance at the prestigious 2013 New York Panorama. And on this evening for their 2014 Spring concert, NYU would follow up with a joint performance with the stage-side of Brooklyn’s CrossFire Steel Orchestra.

NYU Steel on stage with CrossFire Steel Orchestra at the Spring 2014 concert

Not lost on NYU Steel and by extension the NYU percussion students - is beyond the intrinsic educational value of a collaborative effort with the New York steelpan music community in terms of improving one’s musical skill set and musicianship - is the opportunity to feel, see, participate and experience first-hand through these musicians, how cultural expression plays an essential part in human development and the lives of a community.  Pan is much more than an instrument to the members and supporters of the Brooklyn steelpan music community. It is an essential part of their lives.

NYU Steel on stage with CrossFire Steel Orchestra at the Spring 2014 concert

The Show

The practically full Frederick Loewe Theatre audience got to experience a very special and memorable show. In addition to NYU Steel performing with CrossFire Steel Orchestra, Kyle Dunleavy was also a special guest. The wide and varied musical repertoire demonstrated NYU’s mastery of different styles and genres on the steelpan instrument music family.

Kendall Williams performs at the concert

From the “Hotel California” duet between Kyle Dunleavy and Josh Quillen, to NYU Steel’s and CrossFire’s rousing, joint culminating performance of “Leh Go,” the latter’s 2013 New York Panorama selection  - the audience fell completely under the magical wonderment of the steelpan instrument.  “Leh Go” was arranged by NYU alumnus Kendall Williams, who delivered his own graduate recital last year in the very same theatre.  Williams next heads off to Princeton University to begin work on his doctorate in Music Composition later this year around mid-September.

The Panorama Performance

You can’t fake or fool New Yorkers. Simply being large or a  “mass” band in New York won’t cut it. You have to bring it. You’ve got to make people who don’t dance, dance - people who don’t sing, sing and make them stand up and cheer on the first listen. And furthermore, turn lifetime haters into secret lovers. And turn potential fans into lifetime enthusiasts. And most importantly enjoy yourself to the max. Such is the nature of Pan - whose marching orders were set a long time ago by its originators and pioneers. NYU Steel simply lived it and brought it.

NYU Steel’s Yael Litwin ‘living’ the music on stage

Back in December 2013, musical director Josh Quillen alerted NYU Steel members to be ready to perform their music, including collaborative pieces with CrossFire Steel Orchestra in a truly  “Panorama” approach - ‘live’  with no music sheets. CrossFire and NYU Steel broke bread in a deep and personal way on stage. Both left with new-found appreciation and respect for each other.

USSA President Martin Douglas, right with Josh Quillen, left

In the audience was the president of USSA (United States Steelband Association) Douglas Martin, also the founder and president of CrossFire Steel Orchestra.  He is pleased with CrossFire’s ongoing collaboration with NYU Steel, and especially with the first-time combined on-stage performance.

NYU Steel continues to not surprise, but impress. In a relatively short time NYU Steel within the Music and Performing Arts Professions Program has established itself as a vital institution that truly embraces the diversity of the “world’s capital and epicenter of the performing arts, New York City” to its advantage to produce exceptional talent and people.

Mission accomplished.

Just Listen!!

NYU STEEL: Marc Akiyama Alex Appel Greg Auffredou Sara Barsky Sarah Bennett Doug Chew Indigo Cook Rose Egan Megan Emmanuel Abby Fisher Russell Fisher Jared Garner Akini Gill Rob Guilford Adam Holmes Luis Jacome Susan Ludterbach Dave Luetger Yale Litwin Brandon Nestor Matthew Overbay Sean Perham Luz Carime Santa Coloma Karina Yau

About the Artists

NYU Steel is a significant performance ensemble within the NYU Steinhardt Percussion Program, where Professor Jonathan Haas serves as Director. Under the direction of Joshua Quillen, NYU Steel is dedicated to exploring the art of steel pans to the fullest, performing rare compositions and arrangements ranging in scope from Philip Glass and Jason Trueting, to David Rudder and Lord Kitchener from Trinidad and Tobago, where the art form was invented. The ensemble presents several unique performances each year, collaborating with composers globally, while enriching the steel drum repertoire. Recent noteworthy accomplishments include the exclusive recording of Philip Glass’ Piano Etudes, arranged by Joshua Quillen, which was released by Orange Mountain Music in May 2011, as well as promotional and tribute performances for Glass’ 75th birthday.

NYU Steel emphasizes an artistically and culturally diverse array of performance styles that break with traditional boundaries surrounding the esoteric genre of steel pan music. NYU Steel seeks to create a bond between artist and audience that warrants an environment of creativity and community. With a hunger for innovation and desire to explore all the possibilities of steel pan music, NYU Steel has created the most unique ensemble of its kind, drawing from the rich cultural sounds of the Caribbean while incorporating the works of prominent composers such as Philip Glass in order to gain the instrument prominence on the world stage. As part of a global initiative instituted in collaboration with New York University, NYU Steel is constantly pursuing ways to reach audiences in an international scope, driving to cultivate a niche in the world stage. At the same time, NYU Steel continues to nurture relationships with the local community, intent on becoming leaders in education, performance, and creativity.

Known throughout the United States as one of the top “next generation” steel drum builders and tuners, Kyle Dunleavy has been crafting steel drums since 1996. He started his music career as a percussionist and went on to receive a Bachelor of Music from the Hartt School of Music in Connecticut.

Dunleavy began his close work with steel drums at Panyard, Inc, where he received experience and training from world-renowned master tuner Roland Harrigin and his crew of craftsmen from Trinidad. Within a few short years Kyle became Head Tuner for the company. During this time, Kyle was awarded the opportunity to study steel pan tuning with the legendary Ellie Mannette.

Kyle founded Kyle Dunleavy Steel Drums in 1999 and since then has been building and tuning steel drums for performers and steel bands throughout the United States and beyond. Dunleavy regularly travels to Trinidad to study and perform with the best steel pan orchestras in the world.

CrossFire
Steel Orchestra:
-----------------
Sciyahn Koonkoon
Giselle Desir
Ayanna Wright
Isaiah Daniel
Khyah Judah
Warren Webster
Samantha Maison
Sakinah Porter
Keifer Dover
Arielle Chase
Matthew Best
Alexis Schloss
Nia Jacob
Kalifaa Reid
Kendall Williams

Located in the heart of East Flatbush, Brooklyn, Crossfire Steel Orchestra aims to create a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic program to educate young people of Caribbean and Non-Caribbean backgrounds about the steel pan art form. Founded by Martin Douglas in the fall of 1999, Crossfire Steel Orchestra is committed to positively impacting the character of our community’s youth, develop their self-esteem, and pass on the tradition of achievement and success. The ultimate goal of this organization is to create an environment that fosters outstanding citizenship within our community and in turn, the nation.

The Orchestra has performed throughout the Tri-State Area and various parts of the United States, including a standout performance at “The Inauguration of New Bishops” at St. John the Devine Cathedral in Manhattan. They are also consistent participants in New York’s annual West Indian-American Day Carnival, placing 1^st in the 2001 carnival’s “Best Playing Band” competition with a winning piece arranged by one of Crossfire’s young members, Sundiata King.

As a non-profit organization supporting young leadership, the parents and members of Crossfire Steel Orchestra hope to prosper and expand in the coming years.

NYU Steel & CrossFire Steel Orchestra members after the 2014 Spring concert

Leave a comment in the WST forum

‘NYU Steel 2014 Spring concert’ - in Pictures
  Album 1  | Click for Album 2
Mouse over (above) and click the ‘i’ for info on images
Find more photos like this on When Steel Talks

‘NYU Steel 2014 Spring concert’ - in Pictures
  Album 1  | Click for Album 2