The University of Orange is a free school of restoration urbanism in Orange, NJ founded in 2008 and building on a 64-year history of progressive organizing in the city. We build collective capacity for our friends, neighbors, and partners to cultivate a just and equitable city. We offer free courses, work in local coalitions to promote education across the lifecycle, and advocate for equity in urban planning. We hold at once the recognition that racist and classist policies continue to shape cities everywhere, and that the resources we need to heal already exist within our neighborhoods.We solve the problems of our world by learning to see the richness of our cities, becoming lifelong learners, participating in civic life, and having fun with our neighbors.
University of Orange Inc. is a 501c3 tax-exempt organization, and donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
The Steel Pan Ensemble of Orange offers opportunities for adults and children to learn and perform steel pan music. You will find additional details below including a link to sign up. If you are interested but the timing of rehearsals doesn’t work for you, please still fill out the sign up form and let us know. We will add additional sessions if there is enough interest.
WHAT:
Both the adult and children Steel Pan classes are designed to introduce people to playing Steel Pans, musical instruments originating from Trinidad and Tobago. Participants will get introduced to playing the tenor pan, double guitar pan, double seconds pan, and four-bass pan. Classes are taught by local steel pan musician and educator Jevaun Grant.
WHEN, WHO, WHERE:
Children’s Steel Pan Classes – Tuesdays, 5:30-6:45PM, starting September 24th Open to children in 5th grade through 9th grade. @ The HUUB, 35 Cleveland Street, Orange, NJ 07050
Adult Steel Pan Classes – Tuesdays, 7:15-8:30PM, starting September 24th Open to anyone aged 18+. @ The HUUB, 35 Cleveland Street, Orange, NJ 07050
COST:
Both classes are “pay-what-you-can”. We suggest a sliding scale donation of between $20 and $50 per week. If those price points don’t work for you, you can indicate that on the application form. We would like these workshops to be available to everyone! All donations go towards supporting Steel Pan classes in Orange.
Is water provided? Yes, but please send your child with a reusable water bottle if they have one.
What time is the class? Children’s classes are Tuesdays from 5:30PM to 6:45PM
What is the location of the classes? The HUUB, 35 Cleveland Street, Orange NJ 07050
How many spots are available? / How many children will be in attendance? We have roughly 12 spots available.
What is the cost? This is a pay-what-you-can course. We suggest a donation of between $20 and $50 per week. All donations will go to support future Steel Pan classes. Please indicate on the interest form if those price points don’t work for you. We can offer a number of free places to children from Orange, NJ.
How will I know if my child gets a spot? We will contact you and send an enrollment form to sign.
What if I’m on the waitlist? When will I know if my child gets a spot? We will update parents when a waitlist spot becomes available.
What are the ages of children in the program? Steel Pan classes are currently for children in 5th – 9th grade. We hope to offer classes to different age groups, so please fill out the interest form if your child is older or younger also!
Are the staff CPR/First aid trained? At least one staff person on site is CPR and First Aid trained.
The Team:
The Steel Pan Band of Orange project is currently led by Jevaun Grant, Tabitha St. Bernard Jacobs, and Douglas Farrand.
Jevaun Grant is the lead teacher of the Steel Pan Band of Orange. As a visionary, he inspires growth and new ideas, while helping to foster relationships throughout our community. He could give Dreamworks a run for their money due to his continuous tenacity and effort to see a dream come to reality. He has been playing the steel pan for over 18 years, adding notable bands such as The Young Picassos, Trinidad All Stars, Despers USA, and Ekkquinox Steel Band to his resume. He specializes in genres like R&B, Afro-Caribbean and Hip-Hop. Some of his biggest influences in music growing up were Outkast and KES. If you want to hear and see more of his highlights, you can follow him on: IG @lordtenor
Tabitha St. Bernard-Jacobs (she/hers) is a Trinidadian-American parent and consultant, and award-winning artist, writer, and organizer. She is a leading voice on raising anti-racist children and writes for Romper, Parents, Good Housekeeping, She Knows and more. She and her partner write the newsletter, RaisingAntiracistKids.com. Tabitha consulted with Penguin on the kids book, Little Activists. She wrote the first chapter on raising an antiracist baby for the book 100 Diverse Voices on Parenthood. She wrote a chapter on the joys of Black womanhood for A Year of Black Joy. Tabitha was one of the founding organizers of the Women’s March on Washington and currently serves as a senior advisor after having left her position as Deputy Executive Director of Programs. She is the founder of Tabii Just Strategies, a boutique consulting firm focused on antiracist parenting and dismantling systems of oppression. Tabitha’s recognitions include Glamour Magazine’s 2017 Women of the Year, 200 Women Who Will Change The Way You See The World, Boston University’s 2023 Martin Luther King, Jr fellow, 2024’s 100 Women To Know In America, and 100 Women Who Stood Up To Trump in His First 100 Days. Tabitha earned a BA in Psychology and a Masters in Education for Equity & Social Justice.
Douglas Farrand is co-director of University of Orange’s Music City program.
