Yuko Asada is the musical instrument technician at Northern Illinois University (NIU), where she builds and tunes steelpans, teaches steelpan construction, directs the NIU Community School of the Arts Steelband, and serves as the director of steelband at NIU Percussion Camp. She regularly collaborates with engineering students at NIU to bridge the gap between music and technology. Yuko holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from West Virginia University and a Master of Music degree, as well as a Performer’s Certificate in steelpan from NIU, where she gained extensive experience in steelpan building, tuning, and transcription under the mentorship of Dr. Clifford Alexis. 

Yuko has taught steelbands at elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as at the university and community levels. She has also presented her work at national and international conferences, including the Young Women’s Conference in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics at Princeton University, the International Conference and Panorama, the World Steelpan Day Conference in Trinidad and Tobago, and the National Society of Steel Band Educators. In addition, she has conducted workshops in the U.S., Japan, Australia, and Thailand. 

As a co-founder of Pastiche Steel Ensemble, Virtual Steelband, and Pan in Unity, Yuko has been involved in projects that promote steelpan education and performance. In addition to her work in building, tuning, and teaching, Yuko transcribes panorama arrangements, serves as a clinician and adjudicator for steelpan festivals, and composes music for steelbands and chamber groups. Her original composition was featured at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in 2019, and in 2022, she co-produced a mass steelband performance dedicated to Dr. Alexis. 

In recognition of her contributions to the steelpan art form, Yuko was featured in the Japanese documentary Gutto Chikyubin (Earth Mail) in 2017 and 2020. In 2022, she was also featured in the Trinidad and Tobago-produced documentary Women in Pan. Her works are published by Percussive Notes, Steel Times, Maumau Music, and Ramajay Productions. 

Khan M T Cordice (Master of Music - M.M., Bachelor of Arts - B.A.), born in the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, is a Steelpan musician, composer, arranger and educator. Over the years, Khan has attained many accolades in the Art world and continues to climb the stairs of success, with great humility. These accolades range from solo and large Panorama competitions, to solo and ensemble performances in the Caribbean, Dubai, Japan, the U.S and the UK. His prowess also extends to educational development in numerous community-based programmes in Antigua and featured clinician at development programmes across the world.

Khan began advanced studies in Music in 2009, at the Creative Arts center at the St. Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies, where he pursued a degree in Musical Arts. In October of 2012, Khan graduated with honors and was the recipient of the Beryl McBurnie, prize for best all round student, and was also the recipient of the Newman Alexander top music student. Music for Khan seems to be the gift that keeps on giving, as he was privileged to receive a graduate assistantship from Northern Illinois University to continue his studies in music in a Masters program headed by Professor Liam Teague and the Legendary Clifford Alexis. In the spring semester of 2013, can was one of six students to
receive the University Fellowship awarded to outstanding graduate students across the university.

In 2009, at 19 years old, Khan was noticed by many enthusiasts by becoming one of the youngest pan arrangers to win Antigua’s National Panorama, with his arrangement of Swallow’s Party in Space, for the Hells Gate Steel Orchestra. Since 2009, Khan won the National Panorama championship as arranger 9 times with the Hells Gate Steel Orchestra out of a possible 12 becoming the most decorated National Panorama Arranger in Antigua and Barbuda.

As a performer, Khan has adapted and performed works by Beethoven, Bach, Mendelsohn, Mozart, Vivaldi, Coltrane, Parker, Monk. Teague, Sharpe, Narell (just to name a few) and has shared the stage with industry leaders such as Wycliffe Gordon, Robert Greenridge, Etienne Charles, Liam Teague, Len Sharpe, Duvonne Stewart and many more. Khan is also the 2nd place winner in the 2020 international Pan Ramajay. Khan continues to showcase Antigua and Barbuda the world over with his recent accomplishment being one of the first Drillers to work with a large steel orchestra in Trinidad and Tobago placing in the top 3 position.
More recently, Khan has pushed the boundaries of the instrument by being invited to perform in venues such as Buckingham Palace, Pan American Health Organization headquarters in Washington DC, leading the contingent at Dubai EXPO 2020 and many more.

As a composer, Khan has written for a range of soloists, ensembles and large steel orchestras and in 2023 world premiered a 6-movement piece entitled “Shades of My Caribbean” commissioned by Michael Mizma and the San Jacinto College.

More recently, Khan has been chosen as the only person from this region to be a part of the U.S. Embassy’s International Visitors Leadership Programme in fall 2023, performed for the installation of the deputy Director of Pan American Health Organization at the head quarters in Washington DC, and is Driller and musical consultant for the RB Exodus Steel Orchestra of Trinidad assisted in taking the orchestra to 2 top three finishes in National Panorama 2023 and 2024 and winning the 2024 National Steelband Festival in August 2024.

Khan gives willingly to community and youth development. Since the age of 15, Khan has been a tutor at the Eustace Manning Henry Steelpan Academy and still tutors currently. He has worked alongside committees and community groups on projects such as recitals, numerous competitions and annual showcases and currently teaches music to 7 different community-based youth classes at Hells Gate Steel Orchestra, Le Château d’or Music academy and privately. In 2018, Khan launched a platform called “Showcase” in an effort to introduce Antigua and Barbuda to the innovative side of music and entertainment. Since then, the platform has done yearly school educational visits and showcased a variety of local and regional talents.

As a tutor of many of Antigua’s young music talents, Khan hopes to raise the standard of steelpan performances and entertainment by nurturing the next generation of creatives and providing platforms and opportunities for many others to showcase.

Antigua and Barbuda
written by Cleo – Antoinette Hampson

As a percussionist and composer, Eugene Novotney has performed and presented lectures and master classes in North America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Africa. He is recognized internationally as a composer of contemporary percussion music, and his compositions are widely performed as standards of the literature. He is also well known as a steelpan artist and scholar and has been involved in the steelpan movement in the United States since 1982. In 1985, he founded the first steelband in the California State University System, the Humboldt Calypso Band, which he still leads and directs. He has performed in Trinidad’s National Panorama Competition five times (1993, 1994, 2003, 2010, 2020), and he serves regularly as an adjudicator for many organizations, including the Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, Pan Trinbago, Pan European, the Virginia International PANFest, and the Percussive Arts Society.

In 2006, Dr. Novotney was awarded the Wang Family Excellence Award by the California State University Board of Trustees, an award that recognizes California State faculty who, through extraordinary commitment and dedication, have distinguished themselves through exemplary contributions and achievements in their academic disciplines. In 2014, Dr. Novotney was honored as the recipient of Cal Poly Humboldt's distinguished Outstanding Professor Award, an award reserved for faculty who have made superlative contributions to the university and the community in terms of their service, their professional and creative activities, and their outstanding record of teaching excellence. And in 2017, Dr. Novotney was selected as the recipient of the Sunshine Award for Education for his lifelong dedication to the promotion of steelband culture.

His recordings have been released on the Bembe, Delos, SANCH, Pogo, Rituals and Earthbeat (Rhino) labels, and his compositions and arrangements are available through Smith Publications of Sharon, Vermont and Mau Mau Music of Cleveland, Ohio. His professional artists endorsements include Black Swamp Percussion and REMO Incorporated. Eugene Novotney currently serves as Senior Editor of The Steel Times, the professional journal of the National Society of Steel Band Educators (NSSBE) and is a Distinguished Professor of Music at Cal Poly Humboldt in Arcata, California.