About us
The vision of the late Dr. Gladys Whitworth Bray, the East of the River Steelband was founded in 1993 to bring this unique, cultural, and musical experience to youth living east of the Anacostia River. Over the years, the program has provided music training and arts and cultural education to hundreds of children and youth through its core steel pan and youth development programs.
Our Foundations
Music Education
The Steelband provides music education in steel pan music by master pannist Roger Greenidge. The music repertoire consists of Caribbean and calypso, rhythm and blues, jazz, hip hop, and gospel. The Steelband performs at a variety of events and venues throughout metropolitan Washington, DC.
The Steelband program provides music theory education teaching students to read and write music.
Youth Development
To complement music instruction, our EOTRS Leadership & Life Skills Academy sessions include academic reinforcement, health education, substance abuse prevention, etiquette, and social skills, and topics of interest and relevance to participants.
Cultural Heritage
Infused in all activities is the history and culture of the African-diaspora, locally and globally. This is translated in additional arts activities, field trips, and workshop sessions.
Music Education
The East of the River Steelband provides a unique musical and high-quality arts experience for youth, centered on music education, youth development, and cultural heritage in the under-resourced communities of Ward 7 and 8. We are a year around program, with instruction on Mondays and Wednesdays serving youth 12-18 in communities with limited enrichment programs. Our program incorporates the history and cultural aspects of the traditional steelpan music of Trinidad and Tobago.
The Steelband’s operational base is inWard 7 of Washington, DC. Practices are held Monday and Wednesday evenings 5:30 –8:00 pm Fall/Winter. EOTRS Leadership & Life Skills Academy are held Saturday mornings. Email admin@eotrsteelband.org to enroll your child.
Our Team
Board of Directors
Pamela Nelson, Chair
James Shelby, Treasurer
John Barnes, Secretary
Kelly Marie Berry
Meka Burch
Dennis Chestnut
Marsha Middleton
Nicole Wills Carroll
Staff
Kimberly C. Gaines, Executive Director
Roger Greenidge, Musical Director
Rita Dozier, Band Manager
Anisha Newbill, Program Coordinator
Atiya Artis, Music Assistant
Quiana Johnson, Logistics Coordinator
Band Members
K. Rashon Bell, Bass
Tyanna Benton, Double Seconds
Naomi Best Peoples, Tenor Bass
Chanara Chestnut, Double Seconds
LaSha Green, Guitar Pan
Prince Green, Tenor Pan
Tanai Green, Tenor Bass
Chanel Hawkins, Tenor Pan
Jaylen Jackson, Tenor/Tenor Bass
Curtis Murphy, Tenor Pan
Ryanna Robinson, Guitar Pan
Shane Rolle, Tenor Pan
Uncle Rudi, Percussion
Makhi Taylor, Guitar Pan