Welcome to Lion Steel 2023-24!

Posted on by Kayleen Justus

Hello Lion Steel Students and Parents,

Welcome to the 2023-24 school year! We have many exciting things planned, including four on-campus end-of-quarter concerts, PAWS in December, the Valentine’s Lime in February, FMEA (in a new, exciting location) in April, the Cascades Park show in April, and the Virginia International PanFest in May.

The first and most important thing for you to do to get started is to review the list below together and complete ALL of the steps below ASAP.
______________________________
1. Welcome Letter and Syllabus
2. Participation Agreement and Medical Form
3. Students – Set Up Remind (check that you have downloaded the app and are active through Leon HS)
4. Parents – Set Up Remind (send this text message “@lsp23-24” to the number 81010)
5. Pay class fee (Leon HS eFunds site or via check/money order – no cash – to Dr. Justus) –
NOTES: The link above can also be reached from the school homepage by clicking the “Online Fee Payments” button. When you get to EFunds, you’ll click “Pay for Fees”.  From there, you can either login, create an account, or continue as a guest.  If you choose the last option, you will have to have and select the student’s last name and student ID#.  From there, you will select the student and then a “menu” of fee choices pops up. You can just scroll through and select whichever fees you want to pay.  The Lion Steel Fees are listed as “23-24 LEON HS LION STEEL BND”. If you use ACH payment, it’s a flat fee of $1.25.  If you use a card, it’s a percentage.  Depending on how many fees you pay, this can get pricey. 
6. Parent Volunteers (note: if you’d like to be an overnight chaperone for FMEA or Virginia Beach, please contact Dr. Justus for additional volunteer info)
7. Follow Lion Steel on on Instagram (@leonlionsteel) and on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@lionsteel3530)

You can view our Lion Steel 2023-24 Events on this website, on the Leon Performing Arts Calendar, and on the Leon HS Events Calendar.

I am so excited to make music with everyone during the upcoming school year and I’ll be back with you on campus starting on August 31st. In these first few weeks while I am still at home with Baby Justus, please stay tuned to this website, to Instagram, and to our class on FOCUS. I’ll be posting information and assignments to a “TO DO” post here, which is what you should be doing each day in the panyard to stay productive while I’m away (and, of course, the sub will also remind you what to do). I’ll be sending Remind messages and publishing info on our Instagram account, too.

We’ve got a LOT planned – let’s start out strong and make it another magical year for the Lion Steel Band Program!

Cheers,

Dr. Kayleen Justus
justusk@leonschools.net

Lion Steel Events 2023-24

Posted on by Kayleen Justus

REQUIRED FOR ALL LION STEEL STUDENTS
Thursday, October 5th 2023 = Q1 Concert, LHS AUD 7pm
Wednesday, November 29th 2023 = Q2 Concert, LHS AUD 7pm
Monday, March 4th 2024 = Q3 Concert, LHS AUD 7pm
Wednesday, May 8th 2024 = Q4 Concert, LHS AUD 7pm
–for these dates, students report to AUD at 6:15p, show begins at 7pm

DATES FOR CANBOULAY, BACCHANAL, and JOUVERT
Thursday – Saturday, December 7 – 9th = PAWS – times TBD, Canboulay only
Wednesday, February 14th = Valentine’s Lime, LHS Cafeteria 6pm (loading into cafeteria between 3p and 6p)
Friday, February 23rd = Show at Raa Middle (with Matanzas Blue Steel and Raa Advanced Steel) – time TBD
Friday – Sunday, April 5 – 7th = FMEA (at new! location) – Canboulay and Bacchanal only
Thursday, April 18th = Cascades Park show (with possible special guests TBD), show 6 – 8pm, loading between 2p and 5p
Thursday – Sunday, May 9 – 12th = Virginia International PanFest – Canboulay and Bacchanal only
Tuesday, May 14th = Senior Awards – Canboulay only

LION STEEL 2024 – 25 Auditions = May 15 – 21, 2024

Lion Steel 2023-24 Audition Results

Posted on by Kayleen Justus

Canboulay
Amy Allen (T)
Jordan Bartie (T)
Matthew Bennett (DT)
Soren Berry (T)
Josh Bounds (DT playing DS parts/GC/ER)
Logan Brown (T)
Kendall Budd (T)
Sarah Grace Darsey (DS playing DT parts)
Dylan Doan (GC)
Talia Duncan (GC)
Redd Escallier (DS)
Tyriq Gainous (DS)
Brendan Hanbury (GC)
LeAnne Hartman (DT)
Riyad Jaber (GC/B/ER)
Angeleena Jackson (T)
Lexie Jones (T-Kitchener or Superior)
Troy Najdowski (B/Drum Set)
Maddie Pursino (T)
Camryn Sawyer (GC)
Tyler Schnittker (T)
Forester Shelton (T)
Donovan Shumate (GC)
Bekah Smith (DS playing DT parts)
Mason Toothill (T)
Gillian Tran (DS)
Ansley Wiggins (T-Kitchener or Superior)
Jerrod Williams (DT)
Gabe Wolff (DT playing DS parts)

Bacchanal
Aubriana Bales (DS)
Caine Bonamie (T-OS)
Reese Bowden (GC)
Callie Campbell (DS)
Stryder Campbell (DT)
Malik Clark (T)
Cynthia Conte (GC)
Brooklyn Costa (DS)
Ashlynn Dahm (DT)
Rayonna Gaulden (T-Kitchener or Superior)
Scarlet Hall (GC)
Corrin Johnson (T)
Lukas Kaleko (T)
Andy Lara (B)
Henry Mwanda (DT)
Sarah Nabulsi (T)
Noelle Nelloms (T)
Jailyn Nickeo (T)
Alexa Orozco-Tucker (DS)
Kaylee Phillips (GC)
Valentina Ploch (T)
AJ Quinones (T)
Katelyn Sears (B)
Audrey Strickland (T-Kitchener or Superior)
Natalie Strouse (DS)
Sophia Taylor (GC)
Kiera Wilson (T)
Emma Windsor (DT)

Jouvert
Kaleb Bottini (T)
Lilian Davis (T)
La’Riyah Falah (DT)
Drew Giles (T)
J’Zhori Jackson (GC)
Piper McBride (GC)
Kelli Meeks (T)
Tristan Miller (GC)
Sebastian Neel (DS)
Noah Nicolas (GC)
Jaeson Nickeo (T)
Da’Marion Owens (B/ER)
Lily Sapp (DS)
Ansley Sermons (T)
Romeo Xayboury (GC)

Summer 2023 Steel Pan Camp Opportunities!

Posted on by Kayleen Justus

Looking for opportunities to play steel pan during Summer 2023? Here are a few great ones for you to consider:

Birch Creek Summer Music Academy (Birch Creek, Wisconsin)
– Percussion, Steel Pan, and World Music Camp June 18 – July 1, 2023
– Instructors: Liam Teague, Dr. Dan Moore, Scott McConnell, Emily Roane (and more)
– Scholarships Available! (limited spots, please apply early for full consideration)
– Application Information

FSU Summer Music Camps (Florida State University: Tallahassee, Florida)
– Designed for multi-instrumentalists and vocalists (voice, orchestra, band, jazz, middle school, and elementary camps, various dates – lots of choices)
– includes steel band classes every day as part of the camp experience
– steel band class instructors include Dr. Justus AND Mr. Sahely 🙂
– Camp Information, Dates, and Registration

***Please contact Dr. Justus if you’d like help registering or if you have more questions about these camps!***

PAWS 2022 – Canboulay only

Posted on by Kayleen Justus

PAWS Details and Schedule Information

December 9th and 10th – 7p (Leon HS Auditorium)

Tickets: https://teachtix.com/leonhs/paws-2022

Thursday, December 8th – Set-up and Dress Rehearsal

1st – 2nd period = Packing pans

2nd – 3rd period = moving pans to AUD

4th + 5th period = set up pans in AUD ***need as many Canboulay players as possible to aid with this (Dr. J will write you a pass/email to excuse you from classes that day/periods)

2:45p = Call time for Canboulay 

3:00p = Canboulay dress on Stage with Choirs

3:00 – 9:00p = Dress Rehearsal (entire time)

Friday, December 9th – PAWS Show Day 1

Canboulay meet in AUD during 2nd period to rehearse all 4 pieces

6:15p = Call time for Canboulay

7:00p Concert (dismissed after FINALE)

ATTIRE = Canboulay shirt, show-appropriate shoes/bottoms

Saturday, December 10th – PAWS Show Day 2

6:15p = Call time for Canboulay

7:00p Concert

****AFTER FINALE = EVERYONE Strike/Pack instruments, and store in the back of the AUD! – this is REQUIRED, do not skip (attendance taken)

Kyrie = everyone

Tony, Tony Chopper = Everyone

Greensleeves (Personnel TBD Monday, Dec 5th)

Heartland (Personnel TBD Monday, Dec 5th: Gabria, Nia)

Lion Steel Q2 Winter Concert

Posted on by Kayleen Justus

Our 2nd Quarter Lion Steel Winter Concert is coming up very soon, on Tuesday evening, December 13th! The concert will feature all 5 of our steel band classes (Canboulay – 2nd period, Bacchanal – 4th period, Jouvert – 5th period, and the 1st and 3rd period beginning bands) at Leon HS AND our Leon Community Steel Bands (Pans de Leon, Pandemonium, and Stainless) will be opening the show.

***All of the information, details, and schedule of events for this concert are attached here (click to access/download the document). Lion Steel parents and students and the members of the Leon Community Steel please read through this information very carefully and reach out to Dr. Justus (justusk@leonschools.net) or on Remind if you have questions.

This is a FREE concert, open to everyone, so please spread the word and come out to JUMP UP with us on Tuesday, December 13th!

NEW! The concert POSTER and PROGRAM and the Q2 LION STEEL ROSTER are attached here so that you can view and share them as you like!

ALSO!! WE WILL LIVE STREAM this concert via our new YouTube channel so that our family and friends from out of town can Jump Up with us for this show! Thank you to everyone who subscribed to help make this happen 🙂 Go ahead and hit the subscribe button on our channel to see all of our content from this year and to get alerts about our future live streams!

October 7th Concert with composer Liam Teague

Posted on by Kayleen Justus

–> PHOTOS – PHOTOGRAPHER (high resolution image files)

–> PHOTOS – DR. JUSTUS PHONE

–> VIDEO – VIDEOGRAPHER (HD video files)
–> VIDEO – *new* YouTube playlist for the Oct 7th Concert (note: more concert videos will be added daily)


PROGRAM HERE!

ROSTER HERE!

About Our Guest: Professor Liam Teague (Laureate, Arts & Letters: Trinidad and Tobago, 2014)

– “Hands Like Lightning” Liam Teague with the Northern Illinois University World Steel Band (a taste of what you’ll hear at the concert!)
– Liam’s Website
– Professor Teague’s Northern Illinois University Biography
– Liam Teague’s Anthony N. Sabga Caribbean Award for Excellence

>>>> Schedule of Events <<<<
(Parents, Students, and Friends)

TICKET INFO!!!
https://gofan.co/app/events/706608?schoolId=FL11640
General Admission (ages 18+) = $10
Student Admission (ages 6 – 18) = $5
Children 6yo and younger admitted free!
Raa steel band students please wear your steel band shirts to enter the concert free!

Lion Steel 2022-23 Events At-a-Glance

Posted on by Kayleen Justus

Below are the planned dates for curricular Lion Steel ensembles. Click on each event for further details, schedules, information, and important links.

Q1
Sep 12 (Mon, 2:30 – 4:30p): Mighty Dow Workshop in the Lion Steel Portable, anyone (optional)
Oct 6 – 7 (Wed – Fri, Friday concert 6p): 1st Quarter Concert w/Guest Liam Teague, EVERYONE REQUIRED
Q2
Oct 16 (Sun, 2 – 8p): Pan Groove @ Betton Hills Fall Fest, Pan Groove only (optional)
Oct 21 (Fri, 2 – 10p): Canboulay @ FSU, Canboulay only (optional)
Dec 8 – 10 (Thurs – Sat, 7p): PAWS, Canboulay only (required)
Dec 13 (Tues, 7pm): 2nd Quarter Winter Concert, EVERYONE REQUIRED

–> SPRING 2023 LETTER! <–
(All parents and students should read this!) 1/20/23

Q3
Feb 14 (Tues, 6 – 7:30p): Valentine’s Lime Dance/Party,
Canboulay, Bacchanal, Jouvert (required)
Day-of Schedule, Program, and Parent info HERE!
TICKETS! ($5 for singles, $7 per pair/couple)

Feb 18 (Sat, 7 – 11p): Panorama Finals, streaming live in the steel portable,
anyone (optional) – pizza and snacks provided
SIGNUP HERE

Mar 1 (Wed, 6 – 7:15p) – Lion Steel 3rd Quarter Concert:
“Pan Rocks! The Sunshine State Edition”
w/Guest Tracy Thornton,
joined by Blue Steel (Matanzas HS) and Raa Advanced Steel (Raa MS),
EVERYONE REQUIRED
PARENTS AND STUDENTS – SEE THE DAY-OF SCHEDULE HERE
>>>>>TICKETS HERE!<<<<<

see the PROGRAM HERE
see the List of Performers HERE

Q4

Mar 31 – Apr 1 (Fri – Sat):
FMEA Steel Band Festival @ Matanzas HS – Adjudicator: Josanne Francis
Canboulay and Bacchanal only
INFORMATION LETTER AND TRIP ITINERARY HERE!!
Schedule of Bands (published by FMEA)
***Parent Volunteers – Please sign up here before March 10th!!
FMEA Student Roster (Canboulay and Bacchanal)
–>PERMISSION SLIP AND INFORMATION SHEET<–
(signed, completed hard copy due to Dr. Justus by March 10th, 2023)


Apr 20 (Thur, 6 – 8p): Lion Steel @ Cascades Park
Canboulay, Bacchanal, Jouvert (required),
with the Leon Community Advanced Steel Band “Stainless”
FREE SHOW! (no ticket required)
>>>SCHEDULE AND DETAILS for students and parents HERE<<<
See the PROGRAM here!

April 28-30 (Fri – Sun): Steel and Guitar trip to Jazz Fest, upperclassmen in Canboulay and Bacchanal only (optional), and parents – INFO LETTER AND PERMISSION SLIP



May 10 (Wed, 7 – 8:15p, LHS Auditorium): 4th Quarter “Las Lap” Concert Celebration,
EVERYONE REQUIRED, with LCSB opening (6:30p)
DAY-OF Schedule and Letter (Parents and Students)
PROGRAM
Rosters – Lion Steel Q4 and Leon Community Steel Spring 2023

May 11 (Thurs, time TBA): Senior Awards, Canboulay only – CANCELLED

May 15 – 19: Lion Steel 2023 – 24 Auditions!
Audition Letter and Materials Packet – All students (and parents) who plan to audition for Jouvert, Bacchanal, and Canboulay next year should read through this letter. All students should practice the material in this packet and prepare to audition in class at Leon HS or at Raa Middle School during the May 15 – 19 week. Students who are not currently enrolled in a Lion Steel class should contact Dr. Justus as soon as possible to arrange for an alternative audition time after school during the May 15 – 19 week.

Welcome to Lion Steel 2022-23!

Posted on by Kayleen Justus

Hello Lion Steel Students and Parents,

Welcome to the 2022-23 academic year! Please review the list below together and complete all of the steps as soon as possible. Reading the Welcome Letter and Syllabus is the first assignment AND all important information you need to know about participating in Lion Steel this year is included below:

_______________________________

  1. Welcome Letter and Syllabus
  2. Participation Agreement Form
  3. Pay Class Fee
  4. Medical Form
  5. Parent Volunteers
  6. How to Set Up Remind (students)
  7. Join Lion Steel 22-23 Parent Remind (parents, guardians, family, friends) – note you can also text “@lionsteel” to 81010

________________________________

You can view our Lion Steel 2022-23 Events on this website, on the Leon Performing Arts Calendar, and on the Leon HS Events Calendar.

I am so excited to make music with everyone during the upcoming school year – we’re going to make it another magical year for the Lion Steel Band Program!

Cheers,

Dr. Kayleen Justus
justusk@leonschools.net