The tropical and vibrant sound of steel drums can make a person feel like they’re on an island vacation. Most people outside of Bowie’s award-winning band may not be aware of the steel drum performing group. The steel drum organization is not a team, it’s an ensemble, and a very successful one at that established 18 years ago.

Even though the performing ensemble isn’t extraordinarily well known, the team was invited to perform at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, or PASIC.

“I’ve been the ensemble director for the last four years. Over those four years, the steel ensembles have tripled in size,” director Amy Suggs said. “We now have an audition-only advanced band, as well as two non-auditioned bands.”

The steel drum organization at Bowie was established by C.J. Menge. Due to his connections in the steel drum community, he was able to extend an invitation to Bowie for the PASIC convention. The invitation included the ensemble being able to participate in a clinic and perform in a concert.

“It is a huge honor to be asked to come perform at this international convention,” Suggs said. “Especially alongside professional steel band musicians.”

This was an amazing opportunity for any ensemble members who were able to take part in this convention.

“It’s super cool that they got to go and work with all of the professionals,” sophomore Crosby LaGrone said.

The ensemble members were required to learn and memorize 13 different pieces of music. Jake Wohleb, president of the Bowie band as well as a member of the steel drum ensemble,  participated in the convention alongside his sister.

“It has been exceptionally hard this year for all of us,” Wohleb said. “We usually don’t do as much in steel drums due to marching band taking up everyone’s time, but we made it work.”

Juggling the music of different band organizations is definitely a tasking activity but all of the members of the steel drum ensemble were able to get it together and the ensemble performed very well at PASIC.

“It is amazing. I love music, and I try to do as much of it as I can,” Wohleb said. “You only get the opportunity to be in high school once, so why not make the most of it?”

There were 22 students in the audition-based advanced steel band that got to travel to San Antonio. However, there is a grand total of 90 students in the steel ensembles here at Bowie.

“The students did incredibly well,” Suggs said. “I am very proud of all of their hard work and dedication to the music. I was very impressed and humbled by their dedication and hard work.”

Many students go into the steel program with no musical background at all and by the end of their first year they are able to play multiple pieces of a great variety.

“It is a very rewarding ensemble to teach,” Suggs said. “And because of the dance background associated with this music, we always have a great time in Bluebonnet Portable.”

They got to watch AISD’s McCallum High School’s percussion ensemble perform, explore the exhibit hall and meet steel drum artists from across North America including Canada.

“The steel drums are really awesome,” LaGrone said. “They make everything feel cool and tropical. I always listen in on them when they’re rehearsing pieces outside during their classes.”

This was a very rare and special experience for every member of the ensemble that traveled to San Antonio and got to participate in PASIC.

“They’re really lucky that they were given such a great opportunity,” LaGrone said. “Being able to perform with professionals isn’t something that most band members get the chance to do. I’m totally jealous.”