A newly formed Afro-Caribbean Steel & Brass Orchestra is set to make its Virgin Islands debut on April 18 at Prior-Jollek Hall, following its international premiere earlier this month at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York.
Presented by The Forum and directed by St. Thomas-born musician Dion Parson, the 14-piece ensemble – featuring Ron Blake, Sherwin Williams, Eljhaie Brathwaite, Ronald Lee, Le’ Roi Simmonds, and Uriel Rogers, among others – brings its 14-piece ensemble to Prior-Jollek Hall at Antilles School on April 18. The concert brings together steel pan, brass and woodwinds, and African-Caribbean percussion in a format that moves beyond a traditional concert setting.
The project is designed as a large-ensemble experience rooted in the musical traditions of the African diaspora, blending influences from across the Caribbean, West Africa, and New Orleans into a single performance. Organizers say the goal is to create something that reflects both the history and evolution of those sounds, while offering a more connected, contemporary way to experience them.
The April 18 performance follows a three-night debut run at Dizzy’s Club in New York, marking the orchestra’s first appearance on an international stage before returning home to the Virgin Islands.
Unlike a traditional symphony, the ensemble is built around a mix of composed pieces and improvisation, combining the structure of a jazz ensemble with the harmonic range of steel pan and the rhythmic foundation of African and Caribbean percussion.
The performance is part of The Forum’s 2025–2026 season, which continues to bring a mix of local and internationally connected programming to the territory.
The event begins at 6 p.m. with a courtyard opening, followed by the 7 p.m. concert at Prior-Jollek Hall on the Antilles School campus. Tickets are $30 for adults, with reduced pricing for teachers and students, and free admission for children under 10 with a reserved seat.
