Young emerging instrumentalists of the Antigua & Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra (ABYSO) are preparing to showcase their craft with a fully upgraded percussion section, after the Sandals Foundation’s Caribbean Artisan Programme contributed more than $35,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars in new instruments and supporting equipment to the ensemble.
As the philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts, the foundation has built a long-running regional commitment to growing creative opportunities for young Caribbean people, and this donation marks another milestone in that work. Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation, emphasized that investment in youth arts delivers far more than recreational benefits: “We are dedicated to nurturing Caribbean youth through the creative arts. Music acts both as a transformative tool for individual growth and a robust cultural sector that can generate sustainable livelihoods, boost national economies, and amplify the Caribbean’s unique cultural voice on the global stage. Today’s students are tomorrow’s composers, producers, educators and world-class performers who will carry our region’s heritage to audiences across the globe. By investing in initiatives like ABYSO, we help young artists refine their raw talent, build lasting confidence, and envision viable, long-term careers within the creative industries.”
ABYSO leadership notes that the orchestra’s long-term viability relies entirely on partnerships with mission-aligned corporate donors and community supporters. Beyond directly improving the training experience for current orchestra members, the new equipment will allow the organization to dramatically expand its community outreach work across both Antigua and its sister island Barbuda. With the additional percussion gear in hand, ABYSO will deepen its in-school programming, delivering introductory instrumental classes to students at Pigotts Primary, Potters Primary, and Holy Trinity School in Barbuda. The outreach initiative also creates a clear talent pipeline, giving promising beginning student musicians a clear pathway to advance into ABYSO’s junior and full youth orchestral programs. A dedicated teacher training component is also included in the partnership, designed to build the instructional capacity of local music educators and ensure orchestral music education can grow steadily and sustainably across both islands. Combined, these efforts are expected to widen access to structured music learning while cultivating a steady pipeline of skilled young Caribbean musicians for years to come.
For McKuelan Morris, ABYSO’s percussion coordinator, the donation could not have come at a better time. “The percussion instruments we received were not only timely but tremendously welcome additions to our section,” Morris explained. “As we work with our young musicians to develop their skills, the repertoire we tackle grows more complex. Having these high-quality instruments available now lets us add much-needed depth to our collective orchestral sound, while giving our percussionists the opportunity to learn multiple percussion instruments at the same time. We are incredibly grateful for this support.”
This contribution is just one part of the Sandals Foundation’s decades-long regional investment in youth music education across the Caribbean. In The Bahamas, the foundation has supported community initiatives including the Exuma Community Youth Band and the LN Coakley Music Programme, expanding access to structured learning for young musicians in Exuma. In Jamaica, the organization has backed the Skyliner Marching Band, partnered with Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College to deliver specialized brass education workshops, and invested in the island’s legendary Alpha School of Music. Across all these initiatives, the foundation’s core goal remains consistent: to nurture the next generation of Caribbean musical talent and preserve the region’s rich, diverse musical heritage for future audiences.