Chops, Inc.

05/29/2026

Chop's DrumUp program is supporting our partners Edison High School Band and Camden High School at their performance today Ordway Center for the Performing Arts' Flint Hills Family Festival! They will livestream their performance Edison High School Band momentarily!

05/04/2026

Ever wanted to join a steel drum band? Now's your chance! Tin Cups is a community steel drum band that is free and open for all ages and experiences. Throughout the summer, we rehearse weekly on Wednesday evenings and bring the joyful sound of steel drums to over a dozen parades across the Twin Cities.

Join us for our annual Open House rehearsal next week on Wednesday, May 13th from 6-8:30pm to learn about the history of steel drums, try out all the different instruments, and get a feel for what the group is like. If you have a good time at the Open House and want to keep playing with the group, you can sign up right at the end of the rehearsal. If you go to the Open House and find that it's not for you or it just doesn't work with your schedule, that's okay too! Attending the Open House doesn't commit you to the full season.

Click the link below to learn more about the band and RSVP for the Open House!

https://www.tincups.org/join/

04/30/2026

If you've ever had "play in a steel drum band" on your bucket list, now's your chance to check it off by registering for Chops' free, one-week, adult Pan Camp ensemble! Some musical experience is recommended, but no knowledge of the steel drum is required. Chops provides you with the instrument, the instruction, a crash-course in the history of this incredible instrument, and the opportunity to perform on stage with a mass steel band at the end of the week. Work-friendly rehearsal schedule and other details are on the enclosed flier. It's never too late to go to summer camp, especially when it's free and just a few hours of commitment!

Find out more and register for camp at: https://www.chopsinc.org/pan-camp

03/25/2026

Come join us for this incredible experience in world music! Students will explore and learn the steel drum (pan) instrument in an ensemble setting, meet new people, and prepare music to be performed with world-renowned Trinidadian steel pan duo "In Tandem" featuring Jalen Charles and Rashunda Dorsett-Headley.

Monday through Friday, rehearsals will be held at Edison High School and split into two groups with lunch provided. Siblings can sign up for the same group regardless of age if desired by family and approved by Outreach staff.

EVERYTHING is provided at no cost to the participants. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Completely FREE!

Each ensemble is limited to 25 students on a first come, first served basis, so click the link below to register now and reserve your spot for Pan Camp 2026!

https://www.chopsinc.org/pan-camp/

02/20/2026

We are so proud to have two Chops Pan Program directors perform in Trinidad & Tobago alongside two former Pan Outreach guest artists as part of the Nutrien Silver Stars Steel Orchestra. With an incredible arrangement of "Respectfully Yours" by Full Blown, Silver Stars earned 3rd place in the 2026 Panorama Finals!

Check out this video of their performance to hear some amazing pan playing, and keep an eye out for our program directors, Jeremy and Olin, who appear in the video at 05:23, 06:28, and 8:15!

KULTURE STUDIO 2026Caribbean Carnival Culture VLOG ...

11/24/2025

Thank you SO MUCH for your incredible generosity during Chops' fundraiser! 64 donors brought in $23k for Chops, helping us continue our mission of improving lives through music education and performing arts. We could not do this work without your support. With Thanksgiving fast approaching, we are grateful for each and every Chops supporter. 🥰

11/20/2025

Your donations bring Chop's Pan Outreach program to third graders - check out in this vid! 🥰 https://www.givemn.org/story/mwwe9g Keep watching to see their dance moves!

11/20/2025

It's Give to the Max Day and we are so grateful for your help! Keep the momentum going and help us max out our generous matching donations! https://www.givemn.org/story/mwwe9g

11/18/2025

Two days left to double your impact! https://give.mn/c39v9g Chops has raised $7k so far, and received $7k in matching donations! We still have $5k to go to meet our fundraising goals. Please consider a gift to Chops by Nov 20th and have your gift matched dollar-for-dollar!

Chops, Inc. needs your help! Donations up to $12K will be matched 1:1 by Board Members and Donors!

11/06/2025

Because of your generous donations, Chops received a prize of $500 from GiveMN! Keep the donations flowing - there are more prizes available throughout November! https://give.mn/c39v9g