Julie Jaskula Julie Jaskula, leader of Sweet Steel in California, specializes in solo Caribbean, Classical, Kids' & Jazz Steel Drum Music. Julie has been playing steel pans professionally since 1992. She studied Steel Pans at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, Illinois under the direction of master Trinidadian tuner and arranger, Cliff Alexis. Julie received her bachelor's degree in music education with an emphasis on clarinet and other woodwind instruments. Her graduate degree focused primarily on Ethnomusicology and world music performance with an emphasis in Steel Pan and various other ethnic wind and percussion instruments. Besides starting Sweet Steel in San Diego, California, Julie has numerous other performance credits in both Chicago and San Diego which  include: Pan Go Steel Band, Caribbean Entertainment, Steel Express, Steel Heads, as well as performing on numerous CD's and freelancing on both steel drums and woodwind instruments. Julie's steel drum playing has taken her abroad to Taiwan with the NIU Steel Drum Band, as well as to Trinidad and Tobago (where these instruments are from) to perform in 100-piece Steel Bands for The National Panorama Steel Band Competitions held there every carnival season.
Sue Manaois Sue Manaois, leader of Sweet Steel in Texas, specializes in solo Caribbean, Classical, Kids' and Holiday Steel Drum Music. Sue has been playing steel pans since 1985 and performing professionally since 1990. She studied steel pans at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois under the direction of master tuner and arranger Cliff Alexis. Sue received a Bachelor of Music degree in percussion performance from the University of Delaware. She received a Master of Music degree in music history from Northern Illinois University. In addition to starting Sweet Steel in Dallas, Texas, Sue has numerous other performance credits in the Chicago area which include: Stainless Steel Steel Band, Pan Go Steel Band, Steel Heads Steel Band, NIU "Little" Band, as well as performing on numerous CD's and freelancing on steel drums and other percussion instruments. Sue's steel drum playing took her to Taiwan with the NIU Steel Band in 1992.