Dundalk Students to Perform in Steel Drum Extravanganza

Dundalk area students will participate in a steel drum band extravaganza Friday night when Parkville High School hosts the 11th annual Panorama.

Bands from Gen. John Stricker Middle and Sparrows Point High schools will join the steel drum groups from Stoneleigh Elementary, Hereford Middle and Catonsville, Parkville and Perry Hall High schools in a free concert at Parkville High on Friday night.

"Panorama is an awesome concert that showcases many of the steel bands in the county," Stricker band director Jason Adams told Dundalk Patch.

Adams and Catonsville High band director Jim Wharton started the concert  in 2001, and students look forward to the annual event, Adams said.

"My students love the opportunity to showcase their music and seeing the other bands perform," Adams said.  "We all get really hyped up for it."

The event is modeled after the "real" Panoramas held in Jamaica, except without the competition, according to Adams.

Each band will play a set that will feature calypsos, socas and classical and rock selections, according to Baltimore County Public Schools officials.

The highlight of the concert will be when all seven bands perform together to close out the evening with a massive steel drum finale.

"The mass band tunes at the end of the concert are unbelievable," Adams said.  "(We) have nearly 100 steel drums playing at the same time—totally awesome."

Event details

What: 11th annual Panorama steel drum band concert

Where: Parkville High School gymnasium, 2600 Putty Hill Ave.

When: 7 p.m., Friday, May 4

Cost: Free and open to the public