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Schools Will Make Music to Celebrate V.I. History

March 2, 2009 — The territory is celebrating V.I. History Month with music: Concerts throughout the month in each district will showcase the musical talents of V.I. public, private and parochial schools.
"Each of the scheduled programs will be dedicated to a Virgin Islander who has or continues to contribute tremendously as a composer, writer, director, musician, or to a related capacity in the field of music," said Myron Jackson, executive director of the V.I. Cultural Heritage Institute.
The concert series is being put together by the Cultural Heritage Institute, the Department of Education's Cultural Education Division and the V.I. Council on the Arts, with the theme "Celebrating Our Sons and Daughters of Music."
"The theme of this year's series is fitting as we bridge the generations honoring local musicians and introducing the future of this territory's musical history with our students," Jackson said.
The bill, signed into law by then-Gov. Charles W. Turnbull in December 2005, entrusts the Cultural Heritage Institute, Council on the Arts and other organizations to come up with appropriate celebrations of V.I. history and culture, directing them to look at not just the stuff of history books, but also "artifacts, goods, ideas, beliefs, customs, traditions, values, music, art, folklore, dance, cuisine and technical processes."
"The observation of Virgin Islands History Month by the people, especially the children, will serve to instill a sense of pride, loyalty, love, devotion and respect for the Virgin Islands and its people home and abroad," Turnbull said in a proclamation issued upon the signing of the bill into law.
Sen. Shawn-Michael Malone, who sponsored the bill in 2005, wants Virgin Islanders to use the month to "take this opportunity to teach our younger generation about the accomplishments and achievements made by Virgin Islanders such as Rothschild Francis, J. Antonio Jarvis, Lionel Roberts, Ulla Muller, Casper Holstein, Clarice Thomas and Lucinda Millin."
"If our children aren't familiar with our past, how can they truly realize their potential and know where to go?" Malone said, according to a new release from his office.
This is the third year for the music series, which has an educational as well as aesthetic aspect.
"Here in the Virgin Islands and across the nation, many initiatives have been undertaken to integrate the arts into the curriculum, providing opportunities for students to become engaged in recreational artistic expression resulting in increased attendance at school, improved classroom focus and behavior and better academic performance," said Glenn "Kwabena" Davis, director of Education's Cultural Division. "Much research … verifies the importance of utilizing the arts to help students to improve oral communication, reading, writing, problem-solving, innovative thinking, decision-making, strategic planning, workforce skill development and career considerations. So you see, students benefit largely from these experiences beyond just the actual performances."
It is also a celebration of Music In Our Schools Month.
Local musical icons being honored include Alwyn "Ladd" Richards, Phillip "Grasshopper" Pickering, Godfrey Smalls, Frederick Morton, Wilfred "Fred" Thomas, Georgia Francis, Beryl Hill, Wesley and Archie Thomas, Arthur Jeppesen, Leona Watson, Ethel Macintosh, Emannuel "Mano" Boyd, Liston "Matey" Sewer, Helen Joseph, Alphonso Forbes, Neal Creque, Roan Creque and Ira "Dr. Sax" Meyers.
Featured schools include J. Antonio Jarvis Elementary, Evelyn E. Marcelli Elementary, Julius E. Sprauve School, Arthur Richards Junior High, All Saints Cathedral, Gladys A. Abraham Elementary, E. Benjamin Oliver Elementary, Charles Emanuel Elementary, Leonard Dober Elementary, Addelita Cancryn Junior High, Pearl B. Larsen Elementary, Guy Benjamin Elementary, St. Croix Educational Complex High School, St. Croix Central High School, Charlotte Amalie High School and the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School.
For more information regarding the scheduled program, contact the Cultural Heritage Institute at 777-1012, the V.I. Council on the Arts at 774-5984 or the Division of Cultural Education at 774-0100, exts. 8049 or 8050 on St. Thomas, or 773-1095, ext.7115 on St. Croix.
Celebrating Our Sons and Daughters
2009 V.I. History Month Music Series Schedule

St. Thomas
— March 5, 11 a.m. Emancipation Garden; Alwyn "Ladd" Richards, Evelyn Marcelli, J. Antonio Jarvis
— March 10, 11 a.m. Emancipation Garden; Georgia Francis, Beryl Hill, All Saints School, Gladys Abraham, E. Benjamin Oliver
— March 12, 11 a.m. Emancipation Garden; Arthur Jeppesen, Dober Elementary, Addelita Cancryn Jr. High School
— March 22, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Jarvis Museum reception
— March 23, 10 a.m., Oberlin Workshop at Charlotte Amalie High School
— March 26, 11 a.m. Emancipation Garden; Neal and Roan Creque,
— March 27, 11 a.m. Emancipation Garden; Ira "Sax" Meyers, Ivanna Eudora Kean High School
St. John
— March 6, 11 a.m. Powell Bandstand; Phillip Pickering, Godfrey Smalls, Julius Sprauve School
— March 24, 11 a.m. Powell Bandstand; Emmanuel "Mano" Boyd, Liston "Matey" Sewer, Guy Benjamin School and The Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School Blazers
St. Croix
— March 6, 11 a.m. Frederiksted Bandstand; Frederick Morton, Wilfred "Fred" Thomas and Arthur Richardson School
— March 11, 11 a.m. Christiansted Bandstand; Wesley and Archie Thomas, Ernest Galloway, Charles H. Emanuel School and St. Croix Central High
— March 12, 11 a.m. Frederiksted Bandstand; Leona Watson, Ethel Macintosh, Pearl B. Larsen School
— March 25 (no time given), Oberlin Workshop St. Croix Educational Complex; Helen Joseph, Alphonso Forbes, Complex Quelbe Band, Central High School Band, Pearl B. Larsen Choir
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