Nebraska Steel, the university’s student ensemble dedicated to playing steel drum music, will perform at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 7 in Westbrook Music Building, Room 132. The concert is free and open to the public.
Nebraska Steel and Steel PANguins, another student ensemble, will present “Cookie Decorating and Hot Chocolate Holiday Fundraiser.” Nebraska Steel is conducted by Emily Salgado, assistant professor of percussion.
The program includes “Sarah” by Len “Boogie” Sharp, “I Shot the Sheriff,” arranged by Brad Shores, “Cedar Fever” by Dave Walton, “Feliz Navidad,” arranged by Brad Shores, “X-Mas Party” by Santa Coach and “X-Man,” arranged by Andrew Richardson, among others.
Jacob Wrobel, a doctoral student in percussion performance at the Glenn Korff School of Music, said audiences should expect to have a good time at the concert.
“Definitely playing a lot of really fun music, and I’m sure we’ll have everyone dancing in their seats,” Wrobel said. “A highlight will probably be a Chappell Roan medley a member of the ensemble arranged.”
Claire Erb, a freshman music education major from Maple Plain, Minnesota, agreed.
“The audience should look forward to a concert that is a lot of fun,” she said. “The ensemble will be grooving and having a blast throughout the whole concert. Steel PANguins will also join Nebraska Steel for a song, as well as playing a few of their own songs. As a member of both ensembles, I am looking forward to this collaboration.”
Steel drums are not common at universities, so Wrobel joined the ensemble to get the experience of playing.
“I really wanted a chance to learn how to play such a unique instrument,” Wrobel said. “This is my first semester in the ensemble as a grad student, but I’ve played a little in the past. I really love the energy of the group when rehearsing. It’s easy to find myself dancing or getting into the music with everyone else. It’s an instrument that is easy to be relaxed and engaged once you learn the notes.”
As a music education major, Erb was encouraged to learn pan and to try it out. She plays the bass pans in Nebraska Steel and lead pan in Steel PANguins.
“A lot of my close friends are a part of this ensemble as well, and I knew it would be an enjoyable group of people to be around for rehearsals,” Erb said.
Wrobel said there are five to six types of pans used in Nebraska Steel, including bass, guitar/cello, double seconds, double tenors and lead. There is also a drum set and other hand percussion instruments.
Erb hopes audiences will support the ensembles and enjoy the music.
“I love the sound of steel pans and the energy that they can bring to any room,” Erb said. “They aren’t instruments you would typically expect to see at a concert, and they certainly are unique.”
