The Seattle Steel Pan Project is the culmination of over 30 years of steel pan educational programming and performance in the Pacific Northwest. The Seattle Steel Pan Project (SSPP) is managed under the administrative direction of Oriana Estrada and the artistic direction of Michael Shantz and promotes steel pan culture through: Public performance, K-12 school based steel pan curriculum, after-school and summer camps, public community classes and workshops, as well as private lessons.
SSPP has a professional performance ensemble featuring some of the most seasoned steel pan performers and musicians in the Pacific North West. Available for hire at festivals, community or corporate events, private parties, weddings and more.
The steel pan also known as steel drum, is the most modern acoustic musical instrument to find its way to the world stage. Originally from the Caribbean nation of Trinidad & Tobago, it was ingeniously crafted in the 1940’s out of discarded 55 gallon oil drums. Today it can be found thru out the world in ensembles ranging from a few players, or just a soloist, to full orchestras of 100 or more players. Educational programs have proliferated as well, and are found in established music programs from grade school to university level, especially in the US, Europe, Japan and the Caribbean.
