The Woody Gap Band of Steel – the pride of Suches – enjoyed two fun-filled nights at this year’s Band of Steel Gala over the course of Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14.
New in 2026, the Enotah Valley Event Center venue may not have been able to hold as many guests at once as past events inside the Community Center, but the acoustics were astounding and the views breathtaking.
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This was how the decision to hold the event over two evenings originated. Although seats were limited, Band Director Doug Roberts said that spanning the concert over the weekend also remedied scheduling conflicts for audience members who may not have been able to make a one-night show.
As always, the concert was a high-energy, cheerful event, and this year saw a notable change to the lineup. Roberts and his wife, Melissa, joined the band in playing a tribute to one of Roberts’ departed friends.
Lamar Buckner met Roberts in college, and the pair became fast friends. A talented musician, Buckner earned a doctorate in flute performance. For a time, he lived with the Robertses, until he passed away two years ago due to a heart attack caused by long-term kidney disease.
In honor of Buckner, the band performed “Gabriel’s Oboe,” the main theme of the 1986 film “The Mission,” with Melissa playing the flute and Roberts behind the euphonium, which resembles a small tuba.
“He was family, and we were the only family he really had,” Melissa admitted following the song.
Along with that, several guests were moved to tears by performances of Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World” and Garth Brooks’ “If Tomorrow Ever Comes.”
Some attendees became part of the entertainment themselves by bravely getting up and dancing. That first night, guests Ron and Linda Proto earned applause in their own right by stepping together or twirling for both slow and fast selections.
Of course, the show still belonged to the band itself, and there were multiple prominent solo performances from particularly talented students, including a song arranged entirely by Emma Rozell.
“She actually listened to this one and transcribed it herself,” Roberts explained, adding that Rozell used an iPad music program to play and record every part of a song called “Sleep Well,” allowing her to freely perform the steel drum portion live.
Then, there was Preston Metcalf, who got up in front of his fellow pannists to sing a couple of songs, notably Tom Reynolds’ “St. Thomas,” and “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz.
Judging by the lineup, Roberts and the Band of Steel try to choose selections that cater to a variety of tastes. There were, for example, Caribbean-themed translations of Glenn Miller’s classic swinger “In the Mood,” Patsy Cline’s “Crazy” and Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke.”
That, along with raffles and a dinner including steak prepared by Roberts himself – and dessert courtesy of Melissa – made for a vibrant weekend of singing along, dancing, laughter and all-around good feeling.
The Woody Gap Band of Steel Gala was a roaring success on the fundraising front as well. As the winner of the 50/50 raffle gave back their winnings, generosity and high attendance provided more support for the students that continue to make music and charm their community.
Keep an eye out for the May 16 “Pan Rocks” Concert at the Union County Fine Arts Center to continue to support the Band of Steel at the end of the school year, where professional pannist Tracy Thornton will join Woody Gap students in playing classic rock tunes.
