Welcome to CultureMix

CultureMix Arts Ltd is a not for profit organisation specialising in steel pan music, carnival arts, Caribbean culture, dance and entertainment for all ages and all sectors.

We welcome your call or email - click here for details.

Our mission is to widely promote and raise awareness of the benefits of participation in carnival arts and music by encouraging access, education services to schools, professional development, employment and entertainment locally, nationally and internationally.

Read RASPO's Royal Albert Hall BBC Prom review here

Browse the site or click the links for more information on booking workshops in steel pan music and carnival arts. Find the right steel band or go to the Agency page for a choice of artists to suit your event.
You can learn how to play pan at our Centre for Steel Pan Music in the heart of the Royal County of Berkshire. We provide tutors for schools, colleges, universities and youth clubs through our highly respected music service plus specialist workshops in music therapy and team building.

Watch videos of RASPO at Notting Hill Carnival here

Meet the CultureMix team and RASPO Steel Orchestra. The Showcase section has pictures and archive video of live RASPO performances including WOMAD and RASPO on TV, check the calendar for upcoming dates.
In Resources there is plenty about steel pans including the history, profiles on UK pan pioneers, and a useful guide on How to Set Up a Steel Band.

Watch rare live footage of TASPO at the 1951 Festival of Britain here

Contact our friendly team with any enquiries, to sign up for our regular newsletter or to purchase a 'RASPO Live!' CD or 'RASPO Rhythms'. We can also organise pan tuning and the purchase of steel pan sets.

We warmly welcome you to the CultureMix web site and look forward to hearing from you.

The Artistic Director

Above image: RASPO performs at London 2012 Festival for Showtime in Hackney.

RASPO MOVE TO SOUTH STREET ARTS CENTRE

15 MAY 2013

RASPO to launch a new programme of steel pan music workshops at Reading's South Street Arts Centre. More...

South Street Arts Centre Reading Berkshire

WORKSHOP DATES

15 MAY 2013

Want to learn to play steel pan music with RASPO, or get involved in carnival arts? Join CultureMix weekly workshops. Check 2013 dates and times here. More...

Join RASPO for beginner and improvers steel pan music workshops

RASPO PLAY MADEJSKI STADIUM

09 MARCH 2013

RASPO entertained over twenty thousand football fans at Madejski Stadium for the Reading FC v Aston Villa FC premiership game. More...

RASPO at Madejski Stadium - Reading FC v Aston Villa FC

2012 CULTUREMIX REVIEW

14 JANUARY 2013

2012, year of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games and the year RASPO performed at the Royal Albert Hall. A year to celebrate, a year like no other. More...

RASPO set up the steel pans for Showtime at BT London Live in Victoria Park

MARY'S OLYMPIC JOURNEY

15 NOVEMBER 2012

Artistic Director of CultureMix Mary Genis tells of her amazing Olympic experience as a volunteer performer in the London 2012 Paralympics Opening Ceremony. More...

Mary at the Olympic Stadium for the London 2012 Paralympics Opening Ceremony

RASPO TO PLAY AT ROYAL ALBERT HALL - Prom 58: Family Matinee

23 AUGUST 2012

RASPO will join the BBC Proms Family Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall on August Bank Holiday Monday 27 August 2012. More...

BBC Prom 58: Family Orchestra - A journey to far corners of our musical world

RASPO'S SHOWTIME SUCCESS

14 AUGUST 2012

Reading All Steel Percussion Orchestra wowed London with their SHOWTIME presentation of 'TASPO to RASPO'. More...

RASPO musicians Zash, Tanisha and Kisha with dancer Monica

STERLING BETANCOURT MBE HONOURS RASPO CD

09 JULY 2012

Reading All Steel Percussion Orchestra's second CD RASPO Rhythms has been endorsed by original TASPO musician and steel pan pioneer Sterling Betancourt MBE. More...

Sterling Betancourt MBE - Pic by Kevin Joseph

RASPO TOUR SHOWTIME - LONDON 2012 FESTIVAL

01 JUNE 2012

RASPO new show 'TASPO to RASPO' will be launched at Showtime which is part of the London 2012 Festival taking place during the Games. RASPO will perform in London boroughs to welcome over a million visitors and entertain Londoners during London 2012 More...

RASPO will join world class artists for Showtime to welcome visitors to London 2012. Picture by Kevin Joseph

RASPO MOVE TO JELLY SOUND HOUSE

31 MAY 2012

RASPO's new rehearsal studio is now at 59 Station Hill in Reading Berkshire. The new space, previously Club Mannakoo, came about courtesy of art charity Jelly, who has acquired the building to use as a Sound House.

The Jelly Sound House is an ideal new home for RASPO to further develop as a steel band and welcome new members at weekly workshops. More...

The jelly Sound House and RASPO's PanYard previously Club Mannakoo

OLYMPIC RINGS PRESS LAUNCH

07 MARCH 2012

Reading All Steel Percussion Orchestra (RASPO) joined the Akademi Dhol Drummers and Mayor of London Boris Johnson outside City Hall and Tower Bridge for the launch of the Olympic 2012 Festival. More...

RASPO and Akademi Dhol perform for launch of Showtime and giant Olympic rings.

READING MIDWEEK - 8 FEBRUARY 2012 - Ball celebrates special Year

09 FEBRUARY 2012

RASPO entertained guests at the 50th Anniversary of Jamaican Independence Gala dinner and dance at The Hilton Reading More...

Jamaican Independence Anniversary Gala - Reading Midweek 8 February 2012

READING POST - 1 FEBRUARY 2012 - There is nothing like a Dame

09 FEBRUARY 2012

RASPO performed at the Party in the Sky Gala at The Hilton Reading attended by special guest double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes. More...

Top: Dame Kelly Holmes plays steel pan with RASPO's Aynsley, Anisha and Zash. Below: Party in the Sky feature Reading Post 1 February 2012

READING POST - 4 JANUARY 2012 - Caribbean Christmas

05 JANUARY 2012

RASPO entertains Christmas shoppers. More...

Reading Post - Wednesday 4 January 2012

2011 CULTUREMIX REVIEW

10 FEBRUARY 2012

For 2011 CultureMix continued to thrive with international collaborations, support for the School for Steel Pan Music and resident steel band Reading All Steel Percussion Orchestra. Read a summary of the year's activities... More...

CultureMix director Mary Genis meets Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes

TASPO TO RASPO EXHIBITION

10 DECEMBER 2011

Arts organisation Jelly's Open for Art project offers exhibition space for artists in empty shop windows. TASPO to RASPO is a CultureMix display featuring original paintings and portrayals of the steel pan journey from Trinidad to Reading UK. More...

TASPO to RASPO Open for Art Exhibition at 173 Friar Street, Reading, Berkshire

BAS AWARDS 2011

10 DECEMBER 2011

The British Association of Steelbands (BAS) held their Annual Awards and Dinner Dance at the Holiday Inn, Bloomsbury. More...

RASPO representatives attended the 2011 BAS Awards and Dinner Dance

2012 A YEAR TO CELEBRATE

07 OCTOBER 2011

The Reading 2012 Partnership Board launches a new event website for the run up to the Olympic Games More...

New website launched for London 2012 Games and Queens Jubilee in Reading

READING MIDWEEK - 7 SEPTEMBER 2011 - On Carnival Beat

08 SEPTEMBER 2011

Press coverage of RASPO's Notting Hill Carnival Project has helped to raise awareness of steel pan in the Thames Valley More...

Reading Midweek 7 September 2011

RASPO AT PANORAMA 2011

30 AUGUST 2011

Watch videos of RASPO playing Iman Pascall's arrangement of Calling Meh at Notting Hill Carnival's National UK Panorama Steelband Championship 2011 More...

RASPO at Panorama 2011

ABERDEEN AND NEW YORK IN READING

23 AUGUST 2011

Pan players from Aberdeen's Pandemic Steel Band have arrived in Reading to join RASPO for the National Steelband Championship this weekend. Drummer KJ Marcelle and drill director Khuent Rose also landed in Reading from New York to support arranger Iman Pascall. More...

Aberdeen's Pandemic with KJ Marcelle, Iman Pascall, Khuent Rose and Mary Genis

RASPO REHEARSE AT JELLY ART PAD

18 AUGUST 2011

Reading All Steel Percussion Orchestra (RASPO) has moved in to Jelly's Art Pad in Market Place to prepare for the National 'Panorama' UK Steelband Championship on Saturday 27 August 2011. More...

Jelly Art Pad hosts RASPO Steel Orchestra

NATIONAL STEEL BAND CHAMPIONSHIP

20 AUGUST 2011

RASPO Steel Orchestra will once again take part in the National UK Steelband Championship known as Panorama. The band is working with Iman Pascall, a young arranger from Brooklyn New York. Find out rehearsal dates and times and how you can get involved. More...

Zash, Nathifa, Emma, Iman and Mary

MARY MEETS DAME KELLY

23 MAY 2011

Dame Kelly Holmes' charity the DKH Legacy Trust hosted an award ceremony at Madejski Stadium for young people who attended the Get on Track programme. Mary met with the double Olympic champion. More...

Dame Kelly's autograph for Mary and RASPO

CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL

21 APRIL 2011

CultureMix will host holiday workshops for children of all ages who want to try out learning to play steel pan music. With friendly RASPO tutors and instruments provided the workshops are guaranteed to be lots of fun. More...

Children's Festival flyer

BATTLE OF THE SCHOOL BANDS - Reading Rock Academy

05 FEBRUARY 2011

Reading Rock Academy present the Battle of the School Bands at the Hexagon on Sunday 20 February 2011. RASPO Steel Orchestra will perform as special guests as this not to be missed annual event. More...

Battle of the School Bands Finale flyer

2010 CULTUREMIX REVIEW

10 JANUARY 2011

The 2010 annual review includes CultureMix's move to a new space at Watlington Hall and RASPO Steel Orchestra entering the Notting Hill Carnival UK Steelband Championship for the first time. More...

New band Exception's first performance wth RASPO at the Hexagon

2ND BAS AWARD FOR RASPO - Randolph Baptiste Inspirational Award

06 DECEMBER 2010

RASPO receive the Randolph Baptiste Inspirational Award at the British Association of Steelbands (BAS) 12th Annual Awards in London More...

Mary, Darryl, Kisha, Aynsley, Louie, Michelle & Bubbles with the BAS Award

REGGAE IN THE CITY LIVE - Friday 26 November 2010

23 NOVEMBER 2010

REGGAE IN DA CITY LIVE @ COTTONS AKA THE RHUM JUNGLE,
FRIDAY 26TH NOVEMBER 2010
70 Exmouth Market,London,EC1R 4QP
This Friday hosted by Peter Hunnigale More...

Reggae Coalition Flyer

RASPO @ THE HEXAGON - A Black History Month event

23 OCTOBER 2010

Award winning RASPO Steel Orchestra host a Black History Month event at The Hexagon theatre, Reading on Wednesday 27 October 2010. Join us for a family evening of fabulous fun. More...

Flyer - RASPO presents Pan on Fire at the Hexagon

READING CHRONICLE 2 SEPTEMBER 10 - RASPO set carnival on fire!

02 SEPTEMBER 2010

Reading Chronicle features the young RASPO musicians and masqueraders. More...

Reading Chronicle 2 September 2010

RASPO AT NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL REVIEW

02 SEPTEMBER 2010

RASPO Steel Orchestra achieved it's ambition to take part in the UK wide Steelband Championship also known as Panorama. The players celebrated at Notting Hill Carnival's family day on Sunday by joining the procession at Europe's largest two day street festival. More...

RASPO float at Notting Hill Carnival 2010

PANORAMA NEWS !!!

26 AUGUST 2010

In the final few days before RASPO's biggest event ever, find out more about the players and the other bands competing for the title of National Champions of Steel. More...

The RASPO Panorama Orchestra 2010

RASPO PANORAMA ORCHESTRA - Press

21 AUGUST 2010

With only one week to go before the National Steelband Championships RASPO Steel Orchestra practice daily to perfect their ten-minute arrangement of de Fosto's 'Pan on Fire'. Attend a free preview at the Hexagon, Reading on Tuesday 24 August 6-8pm and in Reading Town Centre outside M&S on Thursday 26 August 5-7.30pm More...

Reading Chronicle 19 August 2010

CARNIVAL WORKSHOPS - Press

21 AUGUST 2010

Whitley Excellence Cluster and Aspire2 made it possible for carnival workshops to take place in South Reading launching the first RASPO Mas Camp in Reading. More...

Reading Chronicle 19 August 2010

READING CHRONICLE 5 AUGUST 10 - Setting the carnival spirit

02 SEPTEMBER 2010

Read the write up on RASPO's Notting Hill Carnival launch event... More...

Reading Chronicle 6 August 2010

GET READING 6 AUGUST 2010 - Champions of steel finding rhythm

02 SEPTEMBER 2010

Get involved in RASPO's Notting Hill Carnival project by taking part in Reading activities. More...

Get Reading 6 August 2010

RASPO IN DUBLIN - Festival of World Cultures

03 AUGUST 2010

RASPO took seventeen musicians to the Dun Loaghaire Festival of World Cultures in Dublin 23-25 July 2010. See pics and video footage of their fantastic trip to the Emerald Isle. More...

RASPO Steel Orchestra at the Festival Of World Cultures Dublin

RASPO'S VIP CARNIVAL LAUNCH - 27 July 2010 7-8pm

16 JULY 2010

RASPO's VIP Carnival Launch will kick off their Notting Hill Carnival project. Hear a sneak preview of the Panorama tune, see carnival head dress designs and find out how you can get involved in Europe's biggest street carnival. More...

RASPO Notting Hill Carnival VIP Invitation

JOIN RASPO AT NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL

20 AUGUST 2010

RASPO invites Reading's community to join their Notting Hill Carnival Project. Play mas and pan in the Children's Day procession on Sunday 29 August. On Saturday 28 August RASPO will take part in the National Panorama Steelband Competition. Carnival workshops happen around Reading during June, July and August. More...

Join RASPO at London's Notting Hill Carnival

RASPO'S PANYARD CLOSES - Abbey Gateway unsafe

16 FEBRUARY 2010

The Abbey Gateway home to RASPO Steel Orchestra since 2005 has been fenced off by contractors following safety concerns about the ancient structure. More...

Abbey Gateway fenced off

BAS AWARD FOR RASPO - 10th Anniversary of Performance

06 JANUARY 2010

The British Association of Steelbands (BAS) celebrated ten years of RASPO performances with an award presented by Toussaint Clarke to RASPO's director Mary Genis at the glittering Annual Awards ceremony. More...

Mary with Bubbles and Matthew Phillip from Mangrove Steel Band.

2009 CULTUREMIX REVIEW

11 MAY 2013

Read about the 2009 achievements of CultureMix Arts and RASPO Steel Orchestra's tenth anniversary celebration of performances ... More...

RASPO's Kisha Lowe features on the cover of Rhinegold's Classroom Music

RASPO EVENTS ARCHIVE

01 APRIL 2013

Check past events, press releases and photos here... More...

RASPO Reading Carnival 2008

RASPO LAUNCH FIRST CD - 5 April 2010

02 MARCH 2012

RASPO has completed recording the best of their repertoire for their first CD to be launched at WOMAD festival this year. The CD, recorded in the natural acoustics of Abbey Gateway, shows off the steel percussion orchestra's skills, styles and arrangements at its best. RASPO at WOMAD 2009 - see video, pics and read review More...

RASPO Live! CD cover

PAN FEVER - A Calypso Summer Starts...

26 MAY 2008

The summer has finally arrived with an unprecedented demand for performances from the increasingly popular Reading All Steel Percussion Orchestra (RASPO). The 2008 performance season launched with the Engine Room Collective at South Street Arts Centre on 4 May. More...

Pan Close Up