The Duerdens share how David O. McKay’s prophecy is fulfilled through their band, Shaka Steel

The Duerdens with their steel drums

Hawaii, USA - Dr. Darren and Jennifer Duerden both say they fell in love with the sound and energetic music of the steel drum. Having been involved with steel drum bands for many years, and even meeting in a steel band, the two co-founded Shaka Steel, BYU–Hawaii’s first steel band and the only functioning steel band in all of Hawaii.

Darren Duerden, the founder of Shaka Steel, said when he first came to BYUH as a faculty member, he discovered the school had never had a percussion instructor. Having been involved with steel bands for many years, so pitched the idea of developing one at the school. Duerden said nobody knew what a steel band was, but in 2001 he and his wife started the university’s first steel drum band.

Darren Duerden’s wife and co-founder of Shaka Steel, Jennifer Duerden, shared, “Part of the reason we did it [at BYUH] is because we’ve done steel band at BYU in Provo.” She said they had conducted different steel bands in different states, like Florida and Mississippi.


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  • Thank you for posting this.

    Brenda H.

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