Spring 2010
Director: Stephen Tipping
Assistant Director: Eric Hines
Bands: UASteel, Blue Steel
Concert: Sunday, April 18, 2010, at 3:00 pm. Crowder Hall.
Special Guest: Chris Hanning, drumset and Kelland Thomas, saxophone.
This history is a work in progress. If you notice any errors or know of any events that should be included, please contact Cy (ccb@u.arizona.edu).
Director: Stephen Tipping
Assistant Director: Eric Hines
Bands: UASteel, Blue Steel
Concert: Sunday, April 18, 2010, at 3:00 pm. Crowder Hall.
Special Guest: Chris Hanning, drumset and Kelland Thomas, saxophone.
Director: Stephen Tipping
Assistant Director: Eric Hines
Bands: UASteel, Blue Steel
Concert: Sunday, November 29, 2009, at 7:30 pm. Crowder Hall.
Special Guest: Moisés Paiewonsky.
Director: Josh Armstrong
Bands: UASteel, Blue Steel
Concert: Sunday, April 19, 2009, at 3:00 pm. Crowder Hall.
Director: Josh Armstrong
Bands: UASteel, Blue Steel
Concert: Sunday, November 30, 2008, at 7:30 pm. Crowder Hall.
Significant events:
This concert featured the world premiere of Robert McClure's "Danza Para El Sol".
Director: Josh Armstrong
Bands: UASteel, Blue Steel
Concert: Sunday, April 20, 2008, at 3:00 pm. Crowder Hall.
Special Guest: Chris Wabich.
Significant events:
Guest Artist Chris Wabich joins UASteel and Blue Steel on pan and drumset.
Director: Josh Armstrong
Bands: UASteel, Blue Steel
Concert: Sunday, November 25, 2007, at 7:30 pm. Crowder Hall.
Special Guest: Falcon Steel, Tina Walton, Director.
Significant events:
The fall concert includes a guest performance from Falcon Steel from Catalina Foothills High School.
Director: Mike Sammons
Bands: UASteel, Blue Steel
Concert: Sunday, April 22, 2007, at 3:00 pm. Crowder Hall.
Special Guest: Jeannine Remy.
Significant events:
The UA Steel Band Program celebrates its 20th year.
Director: Mike Sammons
Bands: UASteel, Blue Steel
Concert: Sunday, November 26, 2006, at 7:30 pm. Crowder Hall.
Special Guest: UA World Music Gang.
Significant events:
CD Release Concert! Panstraction is now available and selling like hotcakes.
UASteel traveled to Austin, TX, to perform at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in a joint session with the University of Texas at Austin Steel Pan Ensemble. Presenting a program of new music for steel band, the band is joined by Chris Wabich and Ray Holman for a highly successful performance.
The UA Steel Band Program begins its 20th year with this concert.
Director: Mike Sammons
Bands: UASteel, Blue Steel, Red Steel
Concert: Sunday, April 23, 2006, at 3:00 pm. Crowder Hall.
Special Guest: Ray Holman.
Director: Mike Sammons
Bands: UASteel, Blue Steel
Concert: Sunday, November 27, 2005, at 7:30 pm. Crowder Hall.
Special Guest: Chris Wabich.
Director: Mike Sammons
Bands: UASteel, Blue Band
Concert: Sunday, April 24, 2005, at 3:00 pm. Crowder Hall.
Significant events:
Eighteen students, along with Professor Gary Cook and TA Mike Sammons, traveled to Trinidad for Panorama. One particular highlight: UASteel alum Holly Schurr played tenor pan with Phase II Pan Groove for their unprecedented 20-point victory. It was her fourth year playing in the Panorama competition.
Topping off a great year, UASteel headed to the recording studio at the end of the semester to begin work on Panstraction, the third CD from the steel band program.
Director: Mike Sammons
Bands: UASteel, Blue Band
Concert: Sunday, November 28, 2004, at 7:30 pm. Crowder Hall.
Significant events:
In the Fall of 2004, the program began a year of aggressive fund-raising to take another trip to Trinidad for Carnival and Panorama 2005. Plans also began for the recording of our third CD.
Director: Mike Sammons
Bands: UASteel, Blue Band
Concert: Sunday, April 25, 2004, at 3:00 pm. Crowder Hall.
Special Guest: Liam Teague.
Significant events:
UASteel director Mike Sammons organizes a Tucson "mass steel band" concert, boasting over fifty local college, high school, and elementary school pan players.
Director: Mike Sammons
Bands: UASteel, Blue Band
Concert: Sunday, November 30, 2003, at 7:30 pm. Crowder Hall.
Director: Dan Smithiger
Bands: UASteel, Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Wednesday, April 30, 2003, at 12:00 am.
Significant events:
UASteel director Dan Smithiger organizes the third "AZ PAS" "mass steel band" concert, kicking off the Arizona Percussive Arts Society Festival in Tucson, AZ.
The Steel Band concert this semester begins a new tradition of including a performance by the new African Music Ensemble, introducing steel band fans to the newest percussion group at the university.
Director: Dan Smithiger
Bands: UASteel, Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Sunday, December 1, 2002, at 7:30 pm. Crowder Hall.
Director: Dan Smithiger
Bands: UASteel, Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Sunday, April 21, 2002, at 3:00 pm. Fine Arts Courtyard.
Significant events:
UASteel records the program's second CD, "Live From Crowder Hall". UASteel also performed another "first": "Freedom" by Len "Boogsie" Sharpe, arranged for Phase II Pan Groove for Panorama 2001 and transcribed for UASteel by Don Cox, Thom Martin, and Cynthia Barlow.
UASteel director Dan Smithiger organizes the second Arizona "mass steel band" concert in Phoenix, AZ, also as part of "AZ PAS", the Arizona Percussive Arts Society Festival.
Director: Dan Smithiger
Bands: UASteel, Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Sunday, November 25, 2001, at 12:00 am.
Director: Dan Smithiger
Bands: UASteel, Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Sunday, April 1, 2001, at 12:00 am.
Significant events:
Over 20 members of the steel band program visit Port Of Spain, Trinidad, for Carnival and Panorama. The Blue Band becomes the first non-Panorama band to perform Ken "Professor" Philmore's arrangement of "Stranger" - arranged for Invaders Steel Orchestra for Panorama 2001 and transcribed by Jeannine Remy.
Director: Dan Smithiger
Bands: UASteel, Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Sunday, November 26, 2000, at 12:00 am.
Significant events:
The program grows in popularity, and a third band is created to accommodate the new generations of pan players. UASteel replaces the Blue Band as the veteran group, and Blue Band is now an intermediate group. Red Band remains the beginning band. Dan Smithiger runs all three groups.
The steel band program spends the year aggressively raising funds to take over 20 members to Trinidad for Carnival and Panorama 2001.
Director: Ross McGinnis
Assistant Director: John Best
Bands: Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Sunday, April 9, 2000, at 7:30 pm. Crowder Hall.
Special Guest: Jeannine Remy.
Significant events:
UASteel director Ross McGinnis organizes a "Mass Steel Band", comprised of several school, church, and community steel bands from around the state. The 100+ member steel band performs as the opening concert for "AZ PAS", the Arizona Percussive Arts Festival in Flagstaff, AZ. Guest artist for the concert: Andy Narell.
Director: Ross McGinnis
Assistant Director: John Best
Bands: Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Monday, November 1, 1999, at 12:00 am.
Significant events:
The Blue Band becomes the first non-Panorama band to perform "Carnival Is We", arranged by Ken "Professor" Philmore for Fontclaire for Panorama 1999 and transcribed by Ross McGinnis, Thom Martin, and Cynthia Barlow.
Director: Ross McGinnis
Assistant Director: Cynthia Barlow
Bands: Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Sunday, May 2, 1999, at 7:30 pm. Fine Arts Courtyard.
Special Guest: Ken "Professor" Philmore.
Director: Ross McGinnis
Assistant Director: Cynthia Barlow
Bands: Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Sunday, November 22, 1998, at 3:00 pm. Crowder Hall.
Director: Robert Brudvig
Assistant Director: David Meyers
Bands: Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Sunday, April 5, 1998, at 12:00 am. Fine Arts Courtyard.
Special Guest: Liam Teague.
Director: Robert Brudvig
Assistant Director: David Meyers
Bands: Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Sunday, November 23, 1997, at 12:00 am. UA Mall.
Director: Darin Wadle
Assistant Director: David Meyers
Bands: Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Sunday, April 20, 1997, at 8:00 pm. Crowder Hall.
Special Guest: Jeff Narell.
Director: Darin Wadle
Assistant Director: Wes Hawkins
Bands: Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Sunday, November 24, 1996, at 3:00 pm. Crowder Hall.
Director: Dave Walton
Assistant Director: Darin Wadle
Bands: Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Wednesday, April 24, 1996, at 8:00 pm. Crowder Hall.
Special Guest: Ray Holman.
Significant events:
Two pieces were commissioned for the University Steel Bands: "Pan Is It in '96" by Cliff Alexis and "J'Ouvert Bounce" by Ray Holman. The tunes were taught by the composers to the group by rote, and the group transcribed them for future performances.
Director: Dave Walton
Assistant Director: Darin Wadle
Bands: Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Sunday, November 19, 1995, at 8:00 pm. Crowder Hall.
Significant events:
The Blue Band joins the steel bands from Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University to form the Arizona State Steel Band, which performs at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) in November, 1995, in Phoenix, AZ.
Director: Khris Dodge
Assistant Director: Dave Walton
Bands: Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Thursday, April 13, 1995, at 8:00 pm. Crowder Hall.
Special Guest: Tucson High School Steel Band.
Significant events:
The Blue Band records the program's first CD, "Quite Frankly".
Director: Khris Dodge
Assistant Director: Dave Walton
Bands: Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Friday, November 11, 1994, at 3:00 pm. Fine Arts Courtyard.
Special Guest: Tucson High School Steel Band.
Director: Khris Dodge
Assistant Director: Dave Walton
Bands: Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Tuesday, April 12, 1994, at 7:30 pm. Fine Arts Courtyard.
Special Guest: Ray Holman.
Director: Khris Dodge
Assistant Director: Dave Walton
Bands: Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Tuesday, November 9, 1993, at 8:00 pm. Leo Rich Theater.
Special Guest: Cliff Alexis.
Director: Dieter Schodde
Assistant Director: Khris Dodge
Bands: Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Tuesday, April 20, 1993, at 12:00 am.
Director: Dieter Schodde
Assistant Director: Khris Dodge
Bands: Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Sunday, November 8, 1992, at 12:00 am.
Significant events:
The steel band has its concert on its own for the first time.
Director: Dieter Schodde
Assistant Director: Khris Dodge
Bands: Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Tuesday, April 14, 1992, at 12:00 am.
Special Guest: Ira Osbourne, vocalist.
Director: Dieter Schodde
Assistant Director: Khris Dodge
Bands: Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Monday, November 11, 1991, at 12:00 am. Leo Rich Theater.
Significant events:
Two groups - the Blue Band and the Red Band - are created again, and Khris Dodge becomes the first assistant director in the program. The assistant director acts as the director of the Red Band.
Director: Dave Walton
Bands: The University of Arizona Steel Band
Concert: Thursday, April 4, 1991, at 12:00 am.
Director: Dave Walton
Bands: The University of Arizona Steel Band
Concert: Tuesday, November 6, 1990, at 12:00 am.
Significant events:
Now called The University of Arizona Steel Band, the group continues to share concerts with the Rosewood Marimba Band.
Director: Jeannine Remy
Bands: Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Tuesday, April 10, 1990, at 8:00 pm. Crowder Hall.
Special Guest: Cliff Alexis and Ray Holman.
Director: Jeannine Remy
Bands: Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Wednesday, November 1, 1989, at 12:00 am.
Director: Jeannine Remy
Bands: Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Tuesday, April 11, 1989, at 12:00 am.
Director: Jeannine Remy
Bands: Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Tuesday, November 1, 1988, at 12:00 am.
Director: Jeannine Remy
Bands: Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Monday, March 7, 1988, at 8:00 pm. Crowder Hall.
Special Guest: Cliff Alexis.
Significant events:
A summer workshop in 1988 with Cliff Alexis helps build the program's instruments.
Director: Jeannine Remy
Bands: Blue Band, Red Band
Concert: Tuesday, November 24, 1987, at 12:00 am.
Significant events:
Jeannine Remy and Professor Gary Cook launch The Pan Handlers, the first steel band at the University of Arizona. The Pan Handlers are comprised of two bands: the Red Band, made up of the beginning players, and the Blue Band, made up of the veteran players.
The first steel band concert is shared with the Rosewood Marimba Band. Rosewood fans proved a very supportive first audience for the steel band as its popularity grew.