NIU Steel Band in the house on Nov. 9
The Northern Illinois University Steel Band will be the third concert of the 2014-15 season for the Northwest Suburban Community Concert Association in partnership with District 214 Community Education.
The concert is at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, at Forest View Educational Center Theater, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, in Arlington Heights.
The concert is free, but concertgoers are requested to bring a minimum of two canned goods or a $5 cash donation for the St. Peter Lutheran Church Food Pantry in Schaumburg.
Created in 1973 by G. Allan O'Connor, the NIU Steel Band was the first active steel band formed in an American university and has performed throughout the United States and around the world.
The band is directed by Liam Teague, head of Steelpan Studies and associate professor of music, and Clifford Alexis, composer, arranger, tuner and builder.
NIU Steel Band is a 35-member group and mainly comprises steelpan and percussion majors. The band has made three recordings, including the most recent, "Festival of Voices," a live concert featuring an eclectic blend of styles.
In 2000, the NIU Steel band had the distinction of placing second in the World Steelband Festival in Trinidad, and in 2002 performed several concerts including the opening at the Seoul Drum Festival in South Korea.
For information on the NIU Steel Band, visit www.niu.edu/music/ensembles/steelband.shtml.
The 2014-2015 concert season will return on Feb. 22 with The Lakeside Singers, and on April 19 with June's Got the Cash, a tribute to Johnny Cash and June Carter.
For information, visit www.nscommunityconcerts.org.