With Lent right around the corner, the TnT Panorama Competition is TONIGHT!  There are a few live feeds online and videos will be hitting YouTube by the end of the day.  I recommend everyone check out some of the music being played today!  Some of the greatest arrangers of steelpan music will be represented in the competion tonight.   Check it out! — mike

It’s that time of the year folks!  PANORAMA SEASON! There are several live webcasts of Panorama Semifinals on right now!  If you know pan, you know that you that you will hear some great music.  Links below: VIBE: http://tunein.com/radio/Vibe-CT-105-1051-s13632/ POWER: http://www.power102fm.com/stream/ Check them out! — mike

Welcome to 2013! This year for me will be crazy.  There are MANY recitals and concerts that I am currently preparing for.  April and March are loaded with events at NIU and elsewhere that feature the NIU Steelbands and Latin Jazz Ensemble. For those interested in steelpan, there are 5 solo steelpan recitals at NIU.  They will feature many contemporary art-music pieces for pan as well as Jazz and of course the music of the Caribbean. I recommend that fans of the steelpan should come to all of the recitals! — mike

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! As we come in to the new year, I hope everone has a chance to relax and spend time with friends and loved ones.  2012 was a big year and 2013 promises to be even bigger.  Lots of work to do, and MANY concerts will be added to the schedule soon.  Everyone in the Northern Illinois/DeKalb area should keep an eye on the NIU School of Music Schedule.  They will have hundreds of events posted from January through may.  There are 25 major events and recitals happening between the steelpan and percussion studios, and you[…]

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Today I finished my second vibraphone restoration.  It was another 60’s/70’s JenCo.  It was completed and picked up by Anthony Houston.  It turned out great!  It got new paint, powder coat and hardware.  I don’t currently have a good way to share the photos.  If you are interested in any restoration infomation or would like to see before/after pictures, feel free to send me an email! — mike

As November (and Movember) come to a close, I finished up my big events for the year.  Last weekend’s events (see below blog post) and Thanksgiving were GREAT!  Thanks to everyone who came out to the NIU concerts as well as the jam sessions in Yorkville this last week!  Your support is always appreciated. This week I met a fellow Yorkville musician Ethan Bell.  If you have a few minutes, check out his website and see what he is doing. www.EthanBellMusic.com  I also worked with his partner-in-crime Woody James.  He is a great up and coming Country singer and guitarist.  Check out[…]

There is another busy musical weekend coming up!  CLICK HERE for my schedule or see below for a rundown of SOME the great music happening this weekend at NIU. Thursday at 8:00 PM: NIU Jazz Ensemble Saturday at 11:00 AM: Jonny Gifford’s Recital  Saturday at 7:00 PM: PercussionXPercussion (ALL new percussion repertoire!) Sunday at 3:00 PM: NIU Steelband with Freddy Harris III Monday at 8:00 PM: NIU Percussion Ensemble Come check them out! — mike

I just noticed last week that the code for my contact email was messed up.  It is fixed now! If you have tried to email me via the email address on the contact page try again, I did not recieve it.  You can also email me here Mike@SchwebkeMusic.com Sorry for the inconvenience!  — mike

Many of my spring performance dates have been added to my “Schedule” Page.  CLICK HERE to view my schedule. REMINDER: Ritmos Unidos is playing at NIU this Saturday at 8:00pm.  If you are within an hour drive of DeKalb, you should be there.  If you are further away, either make the hike or check out the webcast HERE. It will be great, I promise. — mike