The Virgin Islands Education Department has unveiled the 2025 Artist in Residence Program, offering music education and mentorship to up to 50 students in the St. Thomas-St. John School district. This year’s theme, “Mentoring Through the Music Arts,” will focus on artistic development, technical training, and performance coaching across multiple musical disciplines.
The five-week program will take place at schools across the district, including Julius E. Sprauve School on St. John and Lockhart K-8 School, Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School, Charlotte Amalie High School, and Ivanna Eudora Kean High School on St. Thomas. Students will have the rare opportunity to learn from world-class musicians through group and private lessons, sectional training, and repertoire development. The program will culminate in two community concerts to showcase the students’ progress, according to the press release.
Key Highlights of the Artist in Residence Program
- Sessions will be held two-four times per week for junior high and high school students.
- Professional development workshops will be available for music educators and band directors.
- The curriculum will focus on fundamentals, solo and ensemble development, and general music workshops.
- The program will run Monday through Friday, with optional Saturday private lessons for dedicated students.
VIDE extends its gratitude to the United Jazz Foundation (UJF), led by Dion and Nicole Parson and Program Manager Naysa Lynch, for its unwavering dedication to youth development through music. UJF’s mission to expand music education in the Virgin Islands aligns with VIDE’s goal to provide high-quality arts education. Their efforts have ensured that students have access to top-tier instruction and invaluable performance experiences, the press release stated.
Meet the 2025 Artists in Residence
This year’s program features an exceptional lineup of musicians, composers, and educators who have performed on global stages and are dedicated to music education.
- Alejandro Avilés (saxophonist, educator, composer) – Adjunct professor at Hofstra University and Hunter College, graduate of Manhattan School of Music.
- Alphonso Horne (trumpeter) – Acclaimed by Wynton Marsalis, performer with Marcus Roberts, Rhiannon Giddens, and Rihanna.
- Anthony Hailey (percussionist, educator) – Founder of Mosaic Steel Orchestra, global performer trained by Ellie Mannette.
- Carlton Holmes (pianist, composer) – Performer with Lionel Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, and Stevie Wonder.
- Edward Perez (bassist, composer) – Co-leader of Terraza Big Band, educator at The New School and Queens College.
- Darryl Jordan (vocalist, conductor, educator) – Director of LaGuardia High School’s Gospel Choir, Grammy-winning member of Broadway Inspirational Voices.
- Dion Parson (drummer, composer, educator) – Grammy-winning musician, Chair of the Music Department at the University of the Virgin Islands.
- Elio Villafranca (pianist, composer) – Grammy-nominated Steinway Artist, educator at Juilliard and Manhattan School of Music.
- Gerald Cannon (bassist, educator) – Performer with Art Blakey, Dexter Gordon, and Roy Hargrove, faculty at Oberlin Conservatory and The New School.
- Henry Cole (drummer, educator) – Grammy-winning Puerto Rican musician, faculty at Manhattan School of Music.
- Melvin Jones (trumpeter, arranger) – Featured artist at the 2025 Super Bowl LIX pregame show, educator at Morehouse and Spelman College.
- Mikael Darmanie (pianist, composer, conductor) – NYFA Fellow, Ph.D. candidate and educator at SUNY Stony Brook.
- Mike Burton (saxophonist) – Performer with Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, and Patti LaBelle, Super Bowl LIX pregame artist.
- Ricky Burkhead (percussionist, educator) – Director of Percussion Studies at the University of Mississippi, composer for film and symphonies.
- Rob Harari (producer, sound designer) – Director of Music & Technology at Stevens Institute of Technology, Emmy-winning sound engineer.
- Santi Debriano (bassist, composer) – Leader of world music ensemble Circlechant, contributor to jazz education at NYU.
- Tychiko Cox (vocalist, educator) – Acclaimed Bahamian opera singer, educator at the New Mexico School for the Arts.
VIDE’s Commitment to Music Education
The Artist in Residence Program highlights VIDE’s ongoing commitment to enriching student experiences through the arts and providing direct access to world-class mentorship. The initiative is designed to help students develop their technical skills and gain valuable performance experience, the release stated.
“We are excited to bring back this incredible program and to provide our students with the opportunity to learn from some of the finest musicians in the industry,” said VIDE Commissioner Dionne Wells-Hedrington. “The impact of this program goes far beyond music; it instills discipline, creativity, and confidence in our students, equipping them with skills that will benefit them for a lifetime.”
The 2025 Artist in Residence Program will not only enhance students’ musical abilities but also contribute to their personal growth. VIDE looks forward to celebrating the students’ achievements at the culmination concerts later this year, the release stated.
