Onstage company
Documented collaborators
The UND Steel Pan Ensemble has been a cornerstone of the University of North Dakota’s percussion community since its formation in 1999. Born from the UND Music Department under the direction of percussion and jazz educator Michael Blake, the ensemble built its foundation with drums provided by the Summer Performing Arts Company of Grand Forks (SPA). Over the years, they’ve earned acclaim for their vibrant repertoire, spanning traditional Calypso, Afro-Cuban and Brazilian rhythms, as well as contemporary pop arrangements, all performed on the bright timbres of steel drums.