The SVSU Percussion Ensemble was founded by the late Tony Rongo and our current group uses Tony's old marimba that was re-furbished. Afterwards, Dave Valasek, and, later, Pablo Biaget, directed the group. Currently, Dr. Brandon Haskett directs both the Percussion Ensemble and steel band while Prof. Patrick Fitzgibbon teaches applied percussion lessons.

Valley Steel was founded in 2013 with funding from the Joseph and Karen Krantz Family Charitable Foundation. The foundation made it possible to purchase steelpans, stands, cases, and mallets through Ellie Mannette.

The student group had an informal first concert in April 2013. These students followed up with a performance in the Rhea Miller Recital Hall in November 2013 with guest performer, Jeff Hall. In August 2013, an adult community group was formed, and they will make their debut in April at the Malcolm Field Theatre.

The student group played our first "away gig" in April 2014 at the Great Lakes Steelpan Festival. They followed this by joining St. Louis HS Steel Band in a combined concert at SVSU later that same month.

In Winter Semester 2016, the steel band performed a Panorama tune, "Coffee Street" for the first time in the group's history. Both groups again participated in the Day of Percussion with guest clinicians from the percussion quartet, RELA.