Summer Recruitment Program

Tutorial and Enrichment Program

Students being considered for membership in the Rising Stars Youth Steel Orchestra must participate in the Summer Recruitment Program. Parents and students must complete the Rising Stars Application and submit it along with various supporting documents to the Pretrial Office for consideration.

Students must complete all of the Rising Stars Summer Recruitment Program, which is usually six to eight weeks in nature. Said program that includes: classroom instruction on the history of the Rising Stars, origin of the steel pan, the types of pan, an introduction to music, Percussion Instruments and Drumming and Conga playing skills. Students are tested following the various presentations on the above topics.

Following the classroom instructions, students are introduced to the various instruments within the Rising Stars' Orchestra. They are then able to select the instrument they would like to play and the program relocates to the Long Bay Panyard for hands-on instruction.

During summer instructions, the students must learn: the Virgin Islands March, The Lord's Prayer, Bob Marley's Reggae Medley, Feel So Good, and the current Calypso Medley. The songs that they are taught are used to build their skills on the steel pan instrument. In addition, students also participate in various sports activities, rap sessions presented by persons within the community on a myriad of subjects, field trips and beach outings.

At the end of the summer program, the Orchestra holds an Open House or Concert that features the recruits performing selections that they were taught during the summer program.

Rising Stars Tutorial and Enrichment Program

Tutors are hired and the court's facilities at the Panyard are utilized for tutorial sessions. Every effort is made to monitor and improve the academic progress of the students. This is the main purpose of the program.

The Tutorial sessions are conducted from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. on Monday to Friday. Course offerings in this program includes: English, History, Math, Science, Typing and Computer Applications.