click for bioLeroy began playing the steel pan at the age of four. His involvement in tutoring and arranging began with assisting with workshops, one of which was at Estover Community College, Plymouth, Devon. His enthusiasm and determination turned the eight-member steelband into Real Steel - one of Europe’s premier steel orchestras.
Leroy’s entrance onto the national and international stage began in 1999 when, as Musical Director, he arranged “Sweet and Sexy” for the Notting Hill Carnival’s ‘Best Steelband on the Road’ competition, in which Real Steel placed third. In 2002 he became the youngest recipient of a national "Outstanding Achievement" award in recognition of his work.
Under Leroy's direction, Real Steel has built an intensive tour schedule. He has forged links with German steel band Calypsonic who performed with Real Steel in 2010 at the UK National Panorama playing "Pan Army" - an arrangement they used to win a music competition in Dortmund in 2012.
In 2012 Leroy led Real Steel to win the UK National Panorama performing “Prophet of Pan”. As well as achieving a staggering eight point lead, his win marked only the second time a British born arranger had won this competition. Leroy repeated his success in 2013 with "Hammer Time".
In 2014 Leroy made history when his arrangement of “Pan in the Atmosphere” led Real Steel to win the coveted titled of ‘UK National Panorama Champions’ for the third successive year. In capturing the title, Leroy became the first British-born steelband arranger to win the hat trick, and only the second in the history of the competition to achieve the elusive three in a row. He is also the youngest. “Pan in the Atmosphere” was written by Phillip ‘Jamma’ Stewart, a steel pan player and composer from Birmingham. Leroy's victory also marked the first time a tune written by a British born has won this competition.
