From humble beginnings to steel pan royalty

The distant drumbeat grew louder as guests entered the Toronto Grand Convention Centre that November evening in 2025. The rich, melodic ringing of steel pans (Antigua and Barbuda’s signature sound) filled the air, setting the rhythm for what would be an unforgettable 44th Antigua and Barbuda Independence Gala. At the heart of this cultural celebration stood Khan Cordice, the island nation’s scion of steel pan, whose journey from humble beginnings to international acclaim embodies the transformative power of music.

“I come from very humble beginnings,” Khan Cordice shared with me, his voice resonating with authenticity. “For me growing up, I never had someone on me every day to be positive to be a good student, but I always wanted to do better.”

Khan Cordice’s relationship with music began almost accidentally. Growing up in Antigua and Barbuda, Cordice didn’t initially have much interest in music. It was mostly a coincidence that saw him accompany a friend to his school’s steelpan yard after school. That serendipitous moment would change the trajectory of his life.

“There was no time to get in trouble. I had a lot of fairy godmothers.”

“I spent a lifetime worth of hours at a steelpan yard learning,” he reflected. “There was no time to get in trouble. I had a lot of fairy godmothers.” The sweet, percussive memories of those afternoons; sun-warmed metal beneath his fingers, the collective breath of musicians counting beats, the electric energy of creation. This became the foundation of his extraordinary career.

By 19, Khan had become the youngest arranger ever to win Antigua and Barbuda’s national steel pan competition, Panorama. His Hell’s Gate Steel Orchestra would go on to claim 11 more victories, setting a national record with consecutive wins in 2024 and 2025. Earlier this year, he added Trinidad and Tobago’s 2025 Panorama title to his accolades with the Republic Bank Exodus steel orchestra.

Yet, Khan’s vision extends beyond trophies. “One day I remember coming out of the pan yard, and I found out that my friend got shot,” he recalled, the weight of the moment palpable. “My first thought was, what if I had been there? I am grateful for my life with pan.”

This gratitude fuels his mission to preserve and expand steel pan’s influence. “There are two main things that identify the Caribbean: Steel Pan, and Reggae music,” Khan asserted. His goal is to use steel pan as a vehicle to connect the Caribbean to the world, with China being his next target. “They already seem interested in steel pan. I would be able to form some great connections there.”

“There is a major conversation happening around Steel pan in the Caribbean,”

As Antigua and Barbuda’s Director of Culture, Khan is tackling the challenges facing the instrument’s future. “There is a major conversation happening around Steel pan in the Caribbean,” he explained. “Establish new school programs. Find creative ways to support education and art programs. There needs to be an injection, not necessarily money, but musical items.”

His latest initiative, a National Junior Solo Competition, aims to inspire the next generation. “We have gotten some support; people see my vision,” Khan said. “There are some naysayers, but I understand what it has done for me. I really want to reach areas that do not have access to music programs; I want to reach them.”

Speaking with Khan Cordice was a great reminder that culture, like music, thrives when nurtured by dedicated hands. Cordice’s journey from those first accidental notes at the steelpan yard to representing his nation on the world stage offers a powerful testament to finding one’s purpose and, in doing so, uplifting an entire community.