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Inside Out Steelband Festival featuring
Leon “Foster” Thomas

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By Emily Lemmerman

Spotlight on Inside Out Steelband

 

 

Austin, Texas - The 12th annual Inside Out Steelband Festival featured Leon “Foster” Thomas performing his original music last week at the One World Theatre in Austin, Texas.

This event showcased steelbands from McCallum High School, Covington Middle School, and Bowie High School alongside a world-renowned steel drum performer. Previous years have featured Ray Holman, Liam Teague, Tom Miller, Ras Iginga, and Andy Narell.

Leon “Foster” Thomas was chosen as the featured artist for 2009 for his virtuosic ability and strong jazz sensibility.  He spent several days in Austin coaching the participating ensembles in preparation for the concert, and sharing with them his experiences as a performer in Trinidad and abroad.

In addition to Foster’s original compositions, last week’s concert featured new music from Austin’s own pool of talent: CJ Menge- founder of the Inside Out Steel Pan Project, Matt Ehlers- director of the McCallum High School “Knights of Steel”, Emily Lemmerman and Darren Dyke- both steel drum craftsmen, and Josh Lumsden- member of the Covington Middle School steelband. The program also reflected Trinidadian tradition by including two Panorama pieces and a classical arrangement.
 

 One World with Leon Foster

The Inside Out Steel Pan Project is the unifying steelband organization in central Texas, and is dedicated to the advocacy and advancement of steel drums in the community. As a result of its efforts, at least fifteen curricular steelbands exist in Austin schools, four large community bands rehearse weekly, and an annual summer camp is available for children ages 10-18.  Because of Inside Out and its associated programs, Austin has become established as a thriving community and center of contemporary steelband activity.

About Emily Lemmerman

Emily Lemmerman is a steel drum builder and tuner from Ellie Mannette’s school, and is the owner of the company Barracuda Steel Drums (www.barracudasteeldrums.com).  Ms. Lemmerman is also active as a clinician. She traveled to Trinidad this past panorama season with Matt Ehlers, the director of McCallum High School’s steelband.  The duo performed with Silver Stars Steel  Orchestra - the eventual winners of Trinidad & Tobago’s national Panorama - on final night!

The Inside Out program honors and performs traditional Caribbean style music, and the curriculum reflects that. The personnel of Inside Out are also very dedicated to promoting original compositions and arrangements.

CJ Menge, Matt
Ehlers and Emily Lemmerman put together a steelband camp every summer for elementary through high school students. At camp, new music is performed exclusively.  Several of these pieces were featured in their One World Concert, along with the original music of Leon “Foster” Thomas.

 

 

For more information on the Inside Out Steel Pan Project, visit: www.insideoutsteelband.com or
Facebook www.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=mb#/pages/Inside-Out-Steelband/61117633457

Contact Emily Lemmerman at emlem1@yahoo.com 

To learn more about Leon “Foster” Thomas see his website www.leonfosterthomas.com

Steel drum craftsmen in Austin can be found at www.barracudasteeldrums.com

 

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