Clifford Alexis - 1937 - 2019

Clifford Alexis first came to the U.S. in 1964 as a member of the National Steelband of Trinidad and Tobago. He performed all over the world with this group and as leader of his own groups. For 12 years he was employed by the St. Paul, Minnesota public schools as a steelband director, and received the prestigious Minneapolis/St. Paul "Outstanding Black Musician" award twice. 

In addition to his formidable skill as a pan builder and tuner, Clifford was an outstanding composer, arranger and performer. In 1985 he joined the staff of the Northern Illinois University School of Music, and in addition to his responsibilities for maintaining and upgrading the school's large inventory of pans, Clifford co-directed the NIU Steelband with Al O'Connor and later with Liam Teague. Clifford was in great demand as a builder, tuner, clinician, composer and arranger. He received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from NIU and the Chaconia Silver National Award from Trinidad and Tobago.

Liam Teague

Liam Teague is Professor of Music and Head of Steelpan studies at Northern Illinois University (NIU), where he also directs the renowned NIU Steelband. Teague is also the recipient of an NIU Presidential Research, Scholarship and Artistry Professor Award.

Hailed as the “Paganini of the Steelpan”, his commitment to demonstrating the great musical possibilities of the steelpan has taken him to throughout the world, and he has received many awards from his homeland of Trinidad and Tobago, including the Humming Bird National Award (Silver) and the Ansa McAl Caribbean Award for Excellence.

He has received many awards in his homeland of Trinidad and Tobago, including the Humming Bird Award (Silver) for “loyal and devoted service”, the Ansa McAl Caribbean Awards for Excellence, and won of a number of notable competitions such as the Trinidad and Tobago National Steelband

Ellie Mannette  1927 – 2018

Steelpan inventor and one of the pioneers of the early steel pan in the 30s and 40s.  For many years he was at the forfront of pan innovation along with the other early pioneers. His skill and innovation when it came to pan making and tuning is reflected in the numerous awards he received over the years. 

Salmon Cupid - E-Pan inventor, pannist and educator.

Salmon is the inventor of the E-Pan, the world's first electronic synthesized steelpan. Apart from his early years as a pan player in Trinidad he alsohad a strong desire to create an electronic version of the acoustic pan. 

Jonathan Scales - Musician, songwriter, composer

Jonathan started as a saxophonist in college but  recalls wanting to immediately switch from playing the saxophone the first time he was introduced to the steelpan. His brand of music is jazz employing all the complexities of the genre. However he prefers not to hold himself too closely to that label in deference to many jazz purists. While his stated intention is not to push the boundaries of pan, without a doubt his compositions clearly are innovative.

Victor Provost - Pan-Jazz musician, composer

Born in the Virgin islands, Victor is a pan-jazz musician, composer and educator who has worked with many of the jazz greats including  Wynton Marsalis and Paquito D’Rivera. His own recorded works has been recognized and awarded over the years within the industry.