Students of St Leonard’s Boys’ School and Coleridge & Parry Secondary School are now better equipped to strengthen their music studies, after New York’s Performing Arts and Technology High School (PATHS) donated instruments at a cultural showcase at the Oceana Innovation Hub on Wednesday.
The donation formed part of a partnership between the Ministry of Education Transformation, PATHS and the “I WILL GRADUATE” programme, aimed at fostering cultural appreciation, artistic exchange and stronger ties between students in Barbados and New York.
Prior to the showcase, the visiting PATHS band spent time with both schools interacting with students and music teachers, sharing advice and musical knowledge. Parkinson Memorial was also present for the Wednesday showcase.
Students of Performing Arts Technology High School band. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla)
Ministry of Education Transformation official Randy Eastmond said the initiative showed the wider value of music education beyond performance.
“Today is far more than a concert. It is far more than a ceremonial gathering. It is a living example of what music education can become when culture, collaboration, and creativity intersect with purpose,” he said.
He added that music education naturally develops “communication, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration”, while cultural exchanges help students build “empathy, diversity, and international understanding”.
Eastmond described the donation as “not merely an act of generosity” but “an investment in human potential”.
“These instruments will become tools of expression, confidence, discipline, and opportunity for many students in the years ahead,” he told the audience.
Band director at PATHS, Terry Denny, who was born and raised in Barbados, said returning home to support young musicians made the moment especially meaningful.
Principal of St Leonard’s Boys’ Secondary School Peter Cox, Band Director at PATHS Terry Denny and the Music teacher at Coleridge and Parry Secondary School Marlon Legall, with students of both schools. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla)
“While I now serve as the band director at the Performing Arts and Technology High School in Brooklyn, my roots remain firmly planted here.”
Denny explained that the donation was inspired by his own childhood experiences growing up in Barbados.
“As a child living here in Barbados, I didn’t have the opportunity to learn to play instruments. So I felt compelled to have the opportunity to give back to my country.”
The instruments donated included clarinets, trumpets, saxophones and flutes to help schools strengthen their band programmes.
“My hope is that these instruments we donate today will not only be used to make music, but to inspire excellence, creativity, and pride,” Denny added, while encouraging continued collaboration between schools in Barbados and New York.
Founder of the “I WILL GRADUATE” programme, Tonya Lewis-Taylor, said the organisation was eager to continue building the partnership.
Tonya Lewis-Taylor founder of I WILL GRADUATE. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla)
“We are excited about all that we are going to be able to do in order to make sure that we not only have this day, but many days like this to come.”
Lewis-Taylor explained that the programme was created nearly 20 years ago to combat school dropout rates in New York City and now operates in more than 300 schools.
She also revealed plans to bring Barbadian students to New York in the future.
“We’re going to make the funding possible for you all to come and perform for us in New York City,” she announced to applause.
The PATHS band entertained students and teachers with performances of Red Wine, Fantasy, She Works Hard for the Money, Get Lucky, I Got A Feeling and Ring My Bell during the showcase.
(LE)
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