Panloco Steel Drum Band Workshop & Concert
Nothing says summer like the sound of steel drum music. The Aurora Free Library is excited to announce that the widely known and acclaimed steel band Panloco will perform Wednesday, July 13th at 7 pm at the Wells College AA Field near the golf course club house. A special educational workshop is scheduled from 5 to 6 pm for ages 8 and above. Learn the history and method of playing this unique musical instrument that got its start in the Caribbean. Both events are free and open to the public. Food and beverages will be available for purchase from the club house. Bring your chairs or a blanket for a night of island music and dancing. In case of rain, the performance will take place at the Morgan Opera House 370 Main St. Aurora
Panloco, one of Western New York’s most versatile steel bands, was formed in 1995. Led by percussionist Ted Canning, Panloco explores the unique musical qualities of the steel pan from its traditional Caribbean roots to a variety of musical forms including pop, jazz, classical. Panloco performs widely in many venues from informal parties, summer festivals to concert stages throughout New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. https://www.panloco.com/
Panloco Director’s Bio
TED CANNING, a percussionist and native of Cleveland, Ohio, has done extensive freelance work in the northeast United States performing classical music, theater, big band and jazz. His world music studies and performances include Ghanaian, Haitian, Brazilian and Senegalese drumming in a variety of ensembles. From his start as a lead pan player and founding member of the Pandemonium Steelband of Wesleyan University, Ted now performs with the steel drum here in the US as well as in Europe and Latin America. He performs in numerous styles, from Caribbean dance music to new classical works. Ted was the steel drum soloist in performances in Siena, Italy, Mexico City, Mexico and at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City, and has performed with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Rochester, New York. He has performed as well with national champions “Phase II Pan Groove” in Trinidad and Tobago, and with the Moods Pan Orchestra, Crossfire and the D’Radoes steelbands in Brooklyn, New York. Ted now leads the Panloco Steelband, the “Steel Alchemy” Community Steelband, and the RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) Steel Band. He performs with the Trinidad and Tobago Steelband, and has performed with “pan” players from Trinidad and around the world.
Since 1993, Ted has been devoted to arts in education as a lead teaching artist. He has presented performances, workshops and residencies in schools, colleges, and community settings throughout Western New York and Pennsylvania. In addition to presentations of steelband and other world musics, Ted has used music to teach fundamental curriculum skills such as math, language skills, social studies, history and science, illuminating concepts to students and opening doors to other styles of learning.