Ocala Steel Orchestra brings the beat.
Written By Cynthia McFarland
Rhythm. You either have it or you don’t, right?
Not necessarily. Sometimes we just need to learn.
Lifelong musician Sean Thomas believes the universal language of rhythm can connect hearts and minds. It’s his mission to spread that language far and wide. He founded Ocala Steel Orchestra to introduce more people to the world of steelpan and percussion music.
Sean, who has been playing since age 7, hails from Trinidad and Tobago, home of the steelpan.
“I grew up learning the steelpan through my dad, Leroy Thomas, who led his own steelpan orchestra, 3rd Dimension, and became one of the best. That eventually became Moods Steel Orchestra, which is still running, and is now managed by my brother, Roger, and our mother, Emelda,” says Sean, whose grandmother, Rufina Thomas, was one of the first women in the world to play the steelpan.
A talented jazz performer who has played drums with many musicians, including steelpans, Sean studied jazz at the former Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz at the New England Conservatory in Boston and graduated in 1997.
After coming to Ocala in 2018, Sean worked at the Boys and Girls Club and received a grant from Marion Cultural Alliance to buy steelpan instruments to teach the kids.
“I left the Boys and Girls Club in 2022 to form SeanTMusic Global LLC, including Ocala Arts and Entertainment Podcast,” says Sean.
He founded Ocala Steel Orchestra in January 2023 and hopes to grow it to over 120 members.
There are about 30 instruments in the orchestra, all made from oil drums. Because of the varying sizes and dimensions, each has a different sound.
“The steelpan instrument carries a melody just like a piano or trumpet,” explains Sean. “We can play any type of music, from Calypso and reggae to jazz, R&B, soul and pop.”
Classes take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4-7:45pm at the Lillian F. Bryant Community Center in Ocala.
Ocala Steel Orchestra is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so there is no cost to participate.
“We teach free music literacy and are open to anyone, starting at age 7,” says Sean.
Because of how much music has enriched his own life, Sean is eager to share it with others, especially youth.
Ocala Steel Orchestra
(352) 201-3397