Pan Masters Groove - A Maryland Original

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Maryland, USA - The formation of many a Steelband has historically evolved from another existing band. Such is the case of Pan Masters. Some of the founding members of Pan Masters had previously performed with the Trinidad and Tobago Steelband of Washington, D.C. In May 1985, these individuals decided to chart their musical aspirations in another direction, and this resulted in the birth of Pan Masters Steel Orchestra.

Back row: Joseph Lewis, Don Cumberbatch, Frankie Balthazar, Robert Barnes, Brian Solomon, St. Clair Balthazar, Patrick Belle
Front row: Roland Barnes, Malcolm John, Lennard Jack, Jr.
Not pictured: Steve Landrigan
photo taken 1985 by Steve Landrigan


The original members include Frankie Balthazar, St Clair Balthazar, Roland Barnes, Robert Barnes, Patrick Belle, Don Cumberbatch, Malcolm John, Lennard Jack, Jr., Stephen Landrigan, Joseph Lewis and Brian Solomon. In May 2005, Pan Masters Steel Orchestra celebrated 20 years of providing Steelband music in the Washington Metropolitan Area. The band has traveled north as far as Brooklyn, New York and south to North Carolina. The band is based in North Brentwood, Maryland.

Its accomplishments include being adjudged, 1993 through 1998, Steelband champion in the Baltimore Panorama Competition; recipient of the judges’ award for outstanding performance at the 1993 through 2002, 2004 and 2006 D.C. Caribbean Carnival celebrations on Georgia Avenue; 1998 champion in the New York J’Ouvert competition: several command performances at the Bluemont Concert Series, and the inaugurations of former President Bill Clinton and former Mayor Marion Barry.  The band was also featured on the CD “Bon Appetit” by Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, which won the 2003 Grammy for Best Children’s Album.

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