Croydon Steel Orchestra was formed in the summer of 2000 after the Croydon Schools Steel Orchestra folded.  CSO consists of pan musicians from two regional area steel bands in the borough of Croydon namely Addington and Woodside. 

Over the past two years they have performed at various events which included a fund raising concert in the Croydon town centre for the Marie Curie cancer research foundation, switching on Christmas lights throughout the borough, numerous school concerts, fetes, weddings and parties.  CSO has also performed at the Croydon Music Service Showcase in July 2001, taken part in the Croydon Schools Music Association festival concert and two Croydon steel pan extravaganzas both at the Fairfield Halls.

CSO also celebrated the 50th anniversary of steel pan in the UK with the British Association of Steelbands by performing at the opening of their Pan Explosion 2001 competition.  In the summer of 2002, fifteen players from the band played with the much-acclaimed London All Stars Steel Orchestra at the Notting Hill Panorama Champions of Steel competition.   This was a valuable experience for as CSO is planning to enter the 2003 competition and also the Notting Hill Carnival. CSO has since competed in the Notting Hill Panorama, Champions of Steel competition since 2003.

The orchestra’s musical director is Paul Dowie, Kerrie Hughes and Nick Wellcomme are their captains.  There are two managers Sue Moore (Woodside area band) and Jo Hussey (New Addington area band) who are responsible for all bookings and general administration.  They have recently released a CD entitled ‘ Another Night’, that features Toco band, Axel F, Dancin, Rasputin and Another Night.  The cost of the CD is £10. CSO won the 2007 Junior Panorama competition.

CSO aims are to promote the instrument as a style of music and the steel band as a family of instruments in their own right. They also aim to promote the tuition of the art of playing the steelpan in schools thus enabling as many children as possible to learn the art.  For more information on CSO and how to purchase their CD please visit their website www.croydonsteelorchestra.co.uk. or email then at cso@panpodium.com.  Pan Podium wishes them every success in the future.