Fall Fest Countdown: "Tropical Shores" steel drum band rocks the campus

Director Brad Shores leads this ensemble, which performs Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.

Tropical Shores — photo via Bethel College

Bethel College has no shortage of opportunities to get involved in unusual, engaging, and interesting fine arts. A prime example of this is the Bethel College Steel Drum Band, affectionately titled “Tropical Shores”.

The ensemble was created when the director Brad Shores arrived at Bethel in 2016. He brought his personal collection of steel drums for students to learn and use, before long the band was born. 

“The first steel drum band had five or six members and it has grown to 11 since that time,” said Shores.

The current members are Reese Bennett, Nicholas Bonner, Conor Carey, Cade Mason, Annalise Miller, Trent Reyes, Brendan Sanders, Lane Toon, Hayden Wallace, and Miki Harkins. 

If any student is interested in joining, Shores said he would “encourage students to check out the steel drum class for the Spring Semester. The class counts as an Arts and Humanities credit and students do not need any background in music to join.” 

The current band includes several students who are entirely new to music, not to mention new to the instrument itself. To make the learning process more approachable Shores carefully chooses music arrangements that match students’ different levels and interests while accommodating the island sound of the steel drum. 

As a result, this ensemble plays a wide variety of genres including, but not limited to, pop tunes, rock classics, Brad Shores originals, hymns, and Christmas favorites. 

The group is currently working on selections like "Joy to the World/Angels We Have Heard on High", "Pans Gone Wild", "Steel Drummer Boy" and "Tiki Party.” 

The band’s only performance for the semester will be Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. in Krehbiel Auditorium. Shores wants both the Bethel and Newton communities to be aware of this date and come to support the hard work his students have put in. 

This is also a great opportunity for audience members to be exposed to a new type of music. The sound of steel drums has a unique quality, which lends itself to energetic renditions of beloved classics. 

Learning a new instrument, or in some cases, an entirely new art discipline is an impressive feat. Shores has much to be proud of, both in his students and his work.