Pan Project

The Pan Project began at the start of lockdown. A small set was available and sensing that a group of rural children who I taught piano to were potentially going to lose out on the beautiful opportunity of playing music together at school, I kept the ‘school bubbles’ and we began learning and playing pan together. The local village church which was not used at the time, very kindly gave us permission to base ourselves there and we have remained there ever since.

We now have 3 thriving community groups that meet weekly; adults, (Silver Seas Steel), 16-20yr olds ( The Pan Steelers) and then a younger childrens group ( Steel Strikers). The community pan groups often get involved in supporting local events, such as Horton Hullabaloo and the World Music Cafe Night, Port Eynon. They have also played in Swansea Market and The Waterfront Museum bringing Christmas cheer and some eateries, parties, weddings out on the Gower.

The Steel Strikers went on tour last summer to play in other primary schools who were doing ‘Celebrations’ or ‘Festivals’ as a theme. The Pan Steelers have recorded a CD and were commissioned to work on a piece written by a late composer whose son wanted to record it as an authentic Caribbean Track as a lasting memory of his Dad.