Ohio, USA - Aug. 12 — 2012 edition of Pantasia
Quote from Pantasia Director - Tim Mattis - “In September 1995, as I was beginning my second year as an assistant band director in the Findlay City Schools, I had a meeting with parents of high school percussion students to share some ideas I had for the percussion department, including the concept of a steelband. Almost one year later I was contacted by one of the parents, a local attorney, who had attended that meeting. He said that two of his elderly clients had expressed an interest in helping to nurture the musical arts at Findlay High School and asked him if he had any suggestions!
After meeting with the couple and their attorney, they made a donation of $10,000 toward the start-up costs of a new steelband. With an additional $6,000 from various other donors we were able to purchase two of each “voice” (lead, seconds, cellos, and bass) from Panyard, Inc. of Akron, Ohio. This also included all stands, cases, mallets, 12 music arrangements, and a variety of miscellaneous percussion instruments.
As of January 2003, the band has expanded to 35 pans covering 14 voices, a new drum set, and an estimated value of over $70,000. We are very thankful to our community for its support of the arts in public education. Without it this dream of a steelband would have remained just that.”
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