ST. CROIX — Steel bands from public and parochial schools on St. Croix showcased their musical talents at the Department of Education Division of Virgin Islands Cultural Education\u2019s annual Steel Pan Exposition held April 22 at the Randall \u201cDoc\u201d James Racetrack.<\/p>\n
Director of Cultural Education and event coordinator Valrica Bryson welcomed parents, students and supporters to the event and thanked the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation for allowing the event to be housed on the racetrack. The Steel Pan Expo has been traditionally held at the St. Croix Educational Complex.<\/p>\n
St. Croix District Deputy Superintendent Faith Dane George-Boone served as mistress of ceremony and warmed the students up with a drumroll while introducing each school. The St. Mary\u2019s Catholic School steel band, directed by Jessy Joseph, kicked opened the high-energy show, followed by the Lew Muckle Steel Orchestra, led by Noel Wynter.<\/p>\n
Throughout the evening, the John H. Woodson, Alfredo Andrews, Alexander Henderson, Claude O. Markoe and Elena Christian schools serenaded the audience with hit songs, such as \u201cVirgin Islands Nice,\u201d \u201cFete You,\u201d and \u201cBacchanalist.\u201d The youngest musicians came from the Alexander Henderson Elementary School, which performed \u201cThe Lion Sleeps Tonight\u201d from the Disney classic, The Lion King.<\/p>\n
Education Assistant Commissioner Chermaine Hobson also attended the event and praised the students and parents for engaging in extracurricular cultural activities. She noted that some students go on to play in larger bands much like the Superior Court\u2019s Rising Stars and even become instructors.<\/p>\n
The University of the Virgin Islands steel band closed out the evening\u2019s concert with a soca medley.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ST. CROIX — Steel bands from public and parochial schools on St. Croix showcased their musical talents at the Department of Education Division of Virgin Islands Cultural Education\u2019s annual Steel Pan Exposition held April 22 at the Randall \u201cDoc\u201d James Racetrack. Director of Cultural Education and event coordinator Valrica Bryson welcomed parents, students and supporters […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":52020,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[191,147],"tags":[6665],"yoast_head":"\n