Founded in 2018, Chops, Inc is proud to offer a second pan ensemble…Tin Cups! The Tin Cups steel drum ensemble will perform in area parades and events during the summer months, offering learning and performance opportunities for novice pan players or players with limited schedule availability. At least once during the summer, Tin Cups will perform with Pan-handlers in a concert setting creating a steel drum band of over 30 musicians!
No experience is necessary, but a willingness to practice and learn is mandatory! Check the calendar and come to rehearsal. Play and learn pan with no stress. If you enjoy it and want to continue for the summer, join Tin Cups and take a pan home to practice. It’s just that simple…and IT’S FREE!
Consider joining Tin Cups this summer! Simply fill out the membership info form for more information. Availability is limited (we only have so many instruments, after all) so act fast!
Meet The Director
Jeremy Kunkel has over 30 years of percussion experience and is the founder of the Pan Outreach program and Pan-handlers Steel Drum Band. Jeremy developed a passion for steel pan while completing the Bachelor of Music Education Degree program at The University of Memphis, and is thrilled to be leading a program that combines music education and pan. Jeremy has a long history of involvement with many renowned performance ensembles including The Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, the Tony and Emmy award-winning Broadway production, Blast! and The Silver Stars Steel Orchestra in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago for the 2019 Panorama Finals competition. As an active educator, arranger, and clinician Jeremy has numerous championships and professional accolades to his credit.
Jeremy Kunkel is a native of Minnesota, and currently resides in Northfield with his wife and 2 children.
Our Instruments
The instruments used by The Tin Cups are Trinidadian steel drums, a relatively new instrument, which originated as nothing more than a series of notes shaped from the bottom of an old oil barrel! The steel drums, or pans, that we use today are of much higher quality than the typical oil barrel used to allow.
All of our pans are meticulously hand-crafted by master tuner and builder Steve Lawrie. Learn more about Steve and the beautiful instruments he creates at his page www.pantuner.com.
