Caribbean melodies warm winter day in Prospect Heights

With cool temperatures and a snow-covered landscape outside Sunday, visitors to the Prospect Heights Public Library were taken to the warmth of the Caribbean Islands thanks to a performance by the Hersey High School Steel Band.

Under the direction of Joe Sonnefeldt, the 17 Hersey percussionists wore Hawaiian shirts while playing steel drums to songs like "Margaritaville" and "Monday Night."

"People really enjoy the steel drum music because it's something unique," Sonnefeldt said. "We are the only high school in the area that has this type of program so all of the percussion students get to participate."

The band performs several genres, including Trinidad calypso, Jamaican reggae, Cuban mambo, American pop music and classical songs, on instruments handcrafted from 55-gallon steel drums.