Pan

A Vital Part of the Complete Music Education Program

The only wholly original family of acoustic instruments invented in the 20th century. The national musical instrument of Trinidad & Tobago. A fully chromatic orchestra of instruments capable of rendering music of almost any style. A powerful educational medium that reinforces concepts in music theory and mallet keyboard performance. A great environment for developing improvisation and rhythmic skills. Don Prorak Leader of Pan Jumbies, ColoradoÌs only professional steelband. Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois in Urbana, and Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from DePaul University in Chicago. Available for performances, clinics, and lecture-demonstrations on pan and the music and culture of Trinidad & Tobago

n November, 2000 Don established a steelband program at Brighton Heritage Academy in Brighton, CO. BHA is an alternative high school in the Brighton 27-J district, and is the first school in Colorado to offer steelband as part of the academic curriculum. Don teaches 3 daily classes of steelband at BHA. The bands are known as the BHA "Pan Dragons", and have already presented a number of successful concerts. They received a standing ovation for their performance at the Metropolitan Mayors and Commissioners Youth Awards banquet in March, 2001.

The Colorado State University steelband was officially launched in January 2001, and has also achieved recognition. The group performed two successful concerts during it's first semester of existence, and has a promising future.