Trinidad and Tobago Baltimore Steel Orchestra

The Trinidad and Tobago Baltimore Steel Orchestra was formed in 1971 by a few Trinidadians who resided in Baltimore, Maryland.  Richard Semper and Paul Gervais, who are still with group today, are two of the original members.  The group now has musicians performing in it representing three generations of the Semper family.      The band has performed in concerts throughout the mid-Atlantic regions and has offered its services at numerous charitable fund-raising affairs.  In 1978, the Trinidad and Tobago Baltimore Steel Orchestra toured Europe as Goodwill Ambassadors for the city of Baltimore and for Trinidad and Tobago's High Commissioner in England.  The orchestra received honorary citizenship to the city of Annapolis, received the keys to Ocean City, Maryland by the admired mayor of Ocean City, Harry Kelley, and entertained audiences at the 1979 and 1983 World Series in Baltimore.  The group has also played at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. for former President Carter.  One of their proudest accomplishments is having been named as the "Official steel Orchestra of the city of Baltimore" by its late and great mayor and former governor of Maryland, William Donald Schaefer.  The band continues to grow as an organization with strong community support and dedication.  Beginning in 1999, The Trinidad and Tobago Baltimore Steel Orchestra has taken part in a project called "Pan in the Community," a program designed to reach the art of playing the steel drums to kids in after school projects, summer camps, public schools, and PAL projects produced by Baltimore City.    A steelpan is made from an empty 55-gallon oil drum.  The transformation is a complicated process that requires many years of experience.  To the Trinidad and Tobago pannists, the craft of pan building is as important as the music itself.  Each pan represents a different voice in the ensemble and each voice is important.  Just as violins can't replace trumpets in an orchestra, no type of pan can replace another.