Coach Joshua Garrett explained the musical group in the past has been recognized as a West Virginia honors ensemble at the West Virginia State Honors Recital, or as an X-Ensemble honors group through the West Virginia Music Educators Association.

But in 2026 they instead focused their efforts on playing at the Virginia International Pan Fest, happening on Saturday at Virginia Beach. The festival is a celebration of Caribbean music and attracts musicians from throughout America.

The Sherrard musicians leave Thursday for Virginia Beach, and there will be stops at Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens along the way.

“This year, I wanted to try something different,” Garrett said. “Selfishly, this is something I wanted to go back to because I participated in the festival a few years back.

Photo by Joselyn King Members of the Sherrard Middle School “Steel Rams” steel drum band prepare for a trip to the Virginia International Pan Fest happening Saturday in Virginia Beach.

“We just wanted to take a little trip and maybe show off a little along the way. ”

He noted that a number of the students have never seen the ocean.

“So we’re going to be playing right in Virginia Beach on the boardwalk, which is going to be fun,” Garrett continued. “We’re just really looking forward to this.”

Sherrard Middle School has had a steel drum band since 2019, according to Garrett.

“The Ohio Valley has a reputation of having steel drums all around – John Marshall, Wheeling Park (high schools), and a lot of the middle schools,” he said. “Then there’s West Liberty University and WVU (West Virginia University), as well.

Photo by Joselyn King Members of the Sherrard Middle School “Steel Rams” steel drum band prepare for a trip to the Virginia International Pan Fest happening Saturday in Virginia Beach.

“This year, specifically, we will be the only band representing West Virginia (at Pan Fest). We’re really pumped about that.”

Garrett noted that his students did about $40,000 in fundraising to make the trip possible. Marshall County Schools, meanwhile, is paying the bill for the charter bus.

“We had a lot of support from parents, the community and from our administration,” he said. “I think it’s safe to say we’re all pretty excited about it.”

Planning for the trip began in mid-July.

Garrett said most of the students are in his homeroom class, and they use that time to practice as much as 15 to 20 minutes to start each day. Members also stay after school on Mondays for steel drum practice.

Photo by Joselyn King Members of the Sherrard Middle School “Steel Rams” steel drum band prepare for a trip to the Virginia International Pan Fest happening Saturday in Virginia Beach.

Photo by Joselyn King Sherrard Middle School student Taegan Pockl plays the steel drum as part of the school’s “Steel Rams” band.

Photo by Joselyn King Sherrard Middle School student Amelia Kellas plays the steel drum as part of the school’s “Steel Rams” band.