More than 300 St. Thomas students got some face time Wednesday with renowned local musician Dion Parson, who taught them the importance of broadening their horizons with a little jazz and classical music.
Parson, along with V.I. natives Rashawn Ross, Ron Blake and Victor Provost, were at Reichhold Center for the Arts Wednesday for a residency workshop with the students in advance of Parson’s performance Saturday evening with his 21st Century Band, which will also feature Blake and Ross.
Schools participating in the event—which is sponsored by Reichhold, the V.I. Council on the Arts, V.I. Department of Education and the V.I. Lottery—were Sts. Peter and Paul, V.I. Montessori School, All Saints Cathedral School, Joseph Gomez Elementary, E. Benjamin Oliver, Glady’s Abraham, Joseph Sibilly, Bertha C. Boschulte, Lockhart Elementary, and Yvonne Bowsky.
The students appeared to enjoy the music Parson performed on stage Wednesday, which included a newly arranged version of the Miles Davis classic "All Blues." Talking to the students about the instruments the band uses, Parson and the other musicians also showed them how to use the keyboard, trumpet, saxophone and guitar.
Afterward, the students followed up what they learned with questions, and got to know the band members a little better.
When asked how he got to be so successful, Blake said having a strong work ethic is very important in life. He and Parson also talked about listening to all different types of music for inspiration — not just reggae or rap.
Ross talked about how he got into playing the trumpet, telling the students that while in school, it was the instrument of choice among the boys in his class. He also said seeing Parson come home was an inspiration for him and made him believe that he could really accomplish all his goals as a musician.
Provost also talked about having down time and something to turn to as a release when he’s not playing music. For Provost, that release is computers, but for the students at Wednesday’s event, it could become music.
After watching and listening to the band play, Gladys Abraham students Kelanis Smith and Enisha Turnbull said they were ready to begin playing instruments. Smith said she wanted to play the flute and Turnbull was interested in trumpet.
"I learned how fast they can play and that it takes them a lot of time to practice," Smith said about the band’s performance. "I really liked it and seeing how they go from fast to slow."
Parson also brought on stage Wednesday members of the V.I. Youth Ensemble, a group of four musicians that Parson mentored while they were attending Charlotte Amalie High School. The group, made up of Malachi Thomas, Kai Richardson, Jonte Samuel and Tabari Lake, were a good example of young musicians just starting out, believing in themselves and their dream as they take their pursuits to college.
