{"id":20465,"date":"2024-05-09T10:21:04","date_gmt":"2024-05-09T15:21:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pvfa.tamu.edu\/?p=20465"},"modified":"2024-05-09T10:21:15","modified_gmt":"2024-05-09T15:21:15","slug":"steel-fusion-concert-brings-student-groups-together-with-percussionist-phil-hawkins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pvfa.tamu.edu\/news\/2024\/05\/09\/steel-fusion-concert-brings-student-groups-together-with-percussionist-phil-hawkins\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Steel Fusion’ Concert Brings Student Groups Together With Percussionist Phil Hawkins"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Steel pans, trombones and percussion instruments came together during a recent performance with drummer Phil Hawkins in Rudder Theatre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSteel Fusion,\u201d hosted by the Texas A&M School of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts<\/a>, featured 10 songs presented by Texas A&M\u2019s Steelband \u2014 made up of the Maroon Steel<\/a> performance group and students in the Small Ensembles course \u2014 alongside performers from the Brazilian Carnival Ensemble<\/a> and the Trombone Choir<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Kim Kattari<\/a>, faculty adviser for Maroon Steel and instructor of the Small Ensembles course, invited Hawkins<\/a>, a drummer and percussionist based in Santa Clara, California, to mentor students and perform alongside them. Kattari praised the students and their efforts in preparing for the show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey’re absolutely committed to, and invested in, the ensemble,\u201d she said. \u201cIn Trinidad and Tobago \u2014 where steel pans are from \u2014 there’s a lot of significance placed on the sense of community you find in steel bands. And our students have really cultivated that here. I think you could tell that during the concert. They were having a great time playing this fun music with each other, and I hope the audience picked up on those good vibes. This is \u2018healing music,\u2019 as our guest, Phil Hawkins, said during the performance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n