Young musicians in the Antigua & Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra (ABYSO) are set to take center stage with new percussion instruments and accessories following the provision of musical equipment valued at over $35, 000 EC, made possible through support from the Sandals Foundation’s Caribbean Artisan Programme. The investment strengthens ABYSO’s youth music programme, expanding opportunities for young performers while advancing music education and creative arts development across Antigua and Barbuda.

“We are committed to nurturing Caribbean youth through the creative arts. Music is not only a powerful tool for personal development but also as a thriving cultural industry capable of generating livelihoods, expanding national economies and elevating the region’s voice on the global stage,” says Heidi Clarke, Executive Director at the Sandals Foundation.

“Today’s students are tomorrow’s composers, producers, educators and global performers carrying Caribbean culture onto the world stage.”. By investing in programmes like ABYSO, we are helping young musicians refine their talent, build confidence and see viable futures within the creative industries.”

Through weekly lessons, rehearsals and performance opportunities, ABYSO provides young people with mentorship and structured training in orchestral music while fostering discipline, teamwork and creative expression.

“The sustainability of the ABYSO is dependent on the support of corporate partners and donors. This donation of instruments from the Sandals Foundation has not only impacted our musician’s ability to continue their training, but it has provided us the opportunity to continue our outreach program in several schools in Antigua and on the sister isle of Barbuda. Being able to provide these opportunities directly link to our vision of maintaining a sustainable and inclusive programme where any young person with an interest in learning, the instruments can do so”, Managing Director of ABYSO Claudine Benjamin shared.

With the new instruments now in hand, the programme will deepen its engagement with schools, introducing students at Pigotts Primary, Potters Primary and Holy Trinity School in Barbuda to introductory instrument instruction while creating pathways for emerging musicians to progress into ABYSO’s junior and youth orchestra programmes. The initiative also includes a teacher-training component aimed at strengthening the capacity of music instructors, ensuring that orchestral music education can continue to grow sustainably across the island. Together, these engagements expand the reach of music education while cultivating a vibrant pipeline of future Caribbean musicians.

For McKuelan Morris, percussion coordinator within ABYSO he shared, “The percussion instruments we received were not only timely but greatly welcomed additions to our percussion section. As we continue to develop our young musicians the complexity of the music deepens. Having these instruments at our disposal now allows us to strengthen the depth of our sound with the rest of the orchestra while giving the opportunity to the percussionists to learn several percussion instruments simultaneously and for this we are immensely grateful.”

The Sandals Foundation has long championed youth engagement through music across the Caribbean. In The Bahamas, its support has strengthened programs such as the Exuma Community Youth Band and the LN Coakley Music Programme in Exuma. In Jamaica, the Foundation has supported the Skyliner Marching Band, delivered specialized brass music education workshops with Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College, and invested in the island’s renowned Alpha School of Music—collectively nurturing the next generation of Caribbean musicians and preserving the region’s rich musical heritage.