2026 Steelpan Festival at Brooklyn College
June 3, 2026
Music and rhythm filled the air at our second annual Steelpan Festival, held at Brooklyn College on June 3. In celebration of Caribbean Heritage Month, the festival highlighted the rich artistry, cultural significance, and vibrant traditions of steelpan music.
Student performers took the stage to share the results of their creativity, inspiring audiences through performances. However, more than just performances, the event brought together a thriving community of schools, professional musicians, students, and educators.
Produced by ArtsConnection for NYC Public Schools, the festival connected students and the community to the art and culture of steelpan through a variety of interactive experiences. Batingua Arts dance ensemble got things started showing the young audience how the pulsating rhythms, colorful costumes, and dynamic movements and rhythms of West African dance migrated from Ivory Coast, Mali, and Guinea to influence Reggae in Haiti and Soca in Trinidad. ArtsConnection also organized workshops for the students that introduced them to the percussion section of steelpan ensembles with Endless Vibrationz Dance and Drum Co., as well as pan stick design sessions hosted by Wiz Sticks that explored the creative and technical process behind crafting steelpan sticks, a tradition essential to the art form.
The festival concluded with Fourchestra, an innovative professional steelpan ensemble whose performance expanded students’ understanding of how steelpan can thrive across a wide range of ensembles, genres, and musical settings.
A special shoutout to ArtsConnection Teaching Artist Jahlani Roberts, whose leadership, expertise, and dedication helped bring this vibrant community together and thanks to Pan Alley and S.I.R for the stands and additional instruments that made the day such a meaningful celebration of music, culture, and learning. 
Coverage: News12
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