Steel Pan Ensemble
Malone’s Steel Pan Ensemble is exciting for audiences of all ages and full of opportunities to refine musical skills. The national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, steel pan repertoire varies from traditional calypso and soca styles to modern pop music.
From the tradition of African drumming, steel pan music brings together energetic syncopation and Western European tonality. Invented in Trinidad and Tobago in the late 1940’s, steel pan ensembles are often referred to as “steel orchestras” because of the musical voicing structure between the instruments in the ensemble; its music score closely resembles traditional instrumentation of the string section of a symphony orchestra. This full instrumentation, consisting of five distinct types of steel pan, will be featured within the Malone’s ensemble, allowing the showcase of full musical capabilities for the ensemble at University events, such as Christmas at Malone, and community events.
About the Director
David Singhaus, M.M. comes to Malone with a Master of Music Performance from George Mason University and Bachelor’s in Music Education and Performance from The University of Akron, allowing him to gain extensive experience in steel pan technique and the genre of calypso music. His studies took him to Trinidad and Tobago for in-depth exploration of pan history and to perform in Panorama – Trinidad’s premier, international steel pan competition—upon invitation from Nutrien Silver Stars Steel Orchestra. He currently teaches in the Canton City School District, where he directs the middle school steel band, assists the high school marching, concert, and steel bands, and serves as co-director of the Competitive Percussion Ensemble. His performing career has included sharing the stage with CASYM Steel Orchestra of Brooklyn, NY, the Canton Concert Band, the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic, the Tuscarawas Philharmonic Orchestra, the Wooster and Alliance Symphony Orchestras, the Chagrin Falls Studio Orchestra, and Akron Symphonic Winds. Singhaus is also a self-published composer and arranger for steel pan ensembles and is a member of the National Society of Steel Band Educators.