The Iowa Steel Band, under the direction of Dr. Dan Moore, is among the most active touring ensembles from The UI School of Music. The band was formed in 1996 as an ensemble within the percussion studio at Iowa and typically features 15-20 performing members including undergraduate and graduate students.

For nearly 30 years, when most college students are packing their bags and heading home for summer vacation, members of the Iowa Steel Band load up into three university vans and a large equipment truck for a ten-day performance tour. Each Spring, the week after finals, the band travels throughout Iowa and the Midwest performing in schools, concert halls, community centers, shopping malls, train depots, churches, hospitals, treatment facilities, retirement homes, libraries, museums, parks, parking lots, and band shells—lots of band shells. Under the auspices of The Iowa Arts Share program Dr. Moore and the band have now performed in 47 of Iowa’s 99 counties and are still counting.