Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Steelband class with Veron Henry (at front, in navy blue)
Below: Principal Armando Ramirez (left) with Veron Henry
Rochester New York, USA - Last month James Monroe High School welcomed a very special guest indeed, legendary Antiguan steel drummer Veron Henry. Fifteen years ago, Henry brought his world renowned Hell’s Gate Steel Orchestra to play in Rochester. As it was too expensive to transport their instruments by plane, Henry and his team instead built a set of “pans” here at the John Marshall High School. The band subsequently donated these nine instruments to the school. Thus began two of the great musical traditions of the RCSD: the Steel Drum program (now at Monroe) and Urban Steel.
But drums need regular tuning, especially ones past ten years old. To assist, Henry generously returned to Rochester and tuned up his creations. Needless to say, his visit was a treat for teachers and students. The pans are good to go.
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Veron Henry: Pan Builder, Tuner, Blender par excellence; Accomplished Panorama Arranger; Pan Virtuoso; Pan Instructor; Philanthropist; Captain of the World.s Oldest Steel Orchestra, LIME Hells Gate Steel Orchestra of Antigua and Barbuda, Congratulations my brother.
Keep "panning".
One Love !!! One Pan !!!!
The Panthologist
Mr Joseph could you say how Hells Gate from Antigua is the World's Oldest Steel Orch when it is a known fact that the Steel Band Instruments were invented in Trinidad and it is from Trinidad that Antigua got their first set of Tuned Pans. Not sure where you got your facts from but it's surely not right.
Steve, That was definitely an Error, it should be noted that Hells Gate Steel Orchestra is Antigua Oldest Steelband,
Antiguans always make that claim , and unless there is some technicality that we're not aware of , I cannot imagine how any steelband on this planet could claim to be older than Invaders or Trinidad All Stars.
Where pan is concerned , Antiguans have a lot to be proud of , since they've probably the first people to embrace the steelpan outside of T&T.
There is no need for them to make questionable claims that cannot be supported by the history as we know it.