Since 1996, literally hundreds of youngsters on St. John have shared the joy of making music as members of the steel band known for decades as the Love City Pan Dragons Youth Steel Orchestra.
Now, with the hope of traveling to perform at Antigua’s carnival this summer, the Pan Dragons are hosting a fundraising concert at the St. John School of the Arts on Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m.
Tickets are $15 and are available through PayPal, Venmo @lovecitypandragons, by email at lovecitypandragons@gmail.com or by calling 340-690-2420. Please include guest name(s), phone number(s), and email address(es) with the payments. Depending on the availability, a limited number of tickets will be sold at the door.
Admission includes free passed appetizers, but as this is a fundraiser, there will be a cash bar and Pan Dragons merchandise, including shirts, cups and stickers, for sale.
The event begins with a special performance by Ron Lee Jr. and Friends. Lee, who now serves as the organization’s board president, developed his talent as a performer with the Pan Dragons and went on to study steel pan with Victor Provost at George Mason University.
After graduating, Lee returned to St. John and now plays professionally and teaches at the St. John School of the Arts and the Gifft Hill School.
The band is always looking for operating funds, but this year is special as they hope to take a trip to Antigua this July and perform at that island’s pan-o-rama. The plan is to join with the Cool and Smooth Ebonites, the band that produced Ikema Dyer, the Pan Dragons’ instructor and arranger.
The Pan Dragons plan on premiering some new Christmas songs at Saturday’s event. They will also be performing at the annual Kwanzaa Celebration on Dec. 26, in Frank Powell Park sponsored by the Sigma Theta Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
The steel band welcomes new members, beginners or experienced players, from age 10 and above. Practice sessions are held on Fridays from 3:30 to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 12 to 3 p.m. There is a $30 one-time membership fee, which can be waived by request.
For further information, contact Andrea Milam, executive director of the Love City Pan Dragons at 340-690-2420.
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story said the Love City Pan Dragons would perform at the Holiday Celebration in the Park on Thursday on St. John. They will not be performing at that event.
