Community School is the proud sponsor of its own steel drum band, the “Community School World Pan Band.” Currently consisting of 18 members, 16 students age 7 through 13, as well as two parents, the program is under the direction of Richard Rudolph. The band traveled to VA Beach last month to attend the 7th Annual Caribbean Steel Drum Festival, featuring some 20 steel bands from all over the country.
The Community School students were some of the youngest members participating, winning a silver medal and trophy with a score of 89 (out of 100).
In the history of this festival, the Community School World Pan Band, only a year old, is the first band to receive a silver medal.
Steel bands performed selections of their own choice to showcase each student’s strengths and the vast repertoire of steel band music. World Pan Band played selections from rock to calypso from the culture of the Caribbean. Each band was evaluated by the judges in the areas of style, content, presentation and execution of proper fundamentals of steel band performance.
The festival was divided into the categories of elementary school, middle school, high school, community centers and private studios and colleges. World Pan Band was in the private studio group because the program is being administered through Quest Academy of Roanoke.
