American jazz drummer Dion G. Parson, who has roots in the Virgin Islands, will headline a fundraising concert aimed at supporting music development for schools across the Virgin Islands. Photo: presidentscorner.uvi.edu

The Minister for Education, Youth Affairs, and Sports, Honourable Sharie B. de Castro (AL), speaking during the Talking Points programme on Monday, February 9, 2026, said this concert aligns with the ministry’s focus on professional development and training for teachers. Photo: Facebook

The Minister for Education, Youth Affairs, and Sports, Honourable Sharie B. de Castro (AL), announced during the Talking Points programme on Monday, February 9, 2026, that this concert aligns with the ministry’s focus on professional development and training for teachers.

Training for music educators

Honourable de Castro noted that the ministry has been collaborating with Mr Parson and his team to provide support for music educators, ensuring their skills remain up-to-date.

"So they've been engaging with us since September, they came back in October, where we had the amazing concert on the library ship [Logos Hope] that was just absolutely amazing, we were able to raise some funds there," the minister stated.

The concert is set to take place on Friday, February 20, 2026, at HLSCC auditorium in Paraquita Bay, beginning at 7:00 PM, with a reception at 6:00 PM.

Minister de Castro emphasised that proceeds from the concert will directly benefit music education throughout the Virgin Islands.

"We believe that the arts and music are an amazing way to help our young people not only express themselves, but develop their interests and potentially create career pathways for them as well."

Parson supports development of music in schools

Grammy Award-winning jazz drummer and composer Dion G. Parson, a native of St Thomas, US Virgin Islands, frequently leads initiatives and concerts to support music education and resources for schools through his non-profit, the United Jazz Foundation (UJF), and its "Mentoring Through the Arts of Music" programme. Parson works to provide instruments, mentorship, and curriculum development to public school students.

Parson is set to be in the Virgin Islands for professional development sessions with teachers before the concert.

Honourable de Castro said, "We want to ensure that those schools have instruments, the ministry would have started last year, we invested $100,000 in music equipment for primary schools and we're hoping that this year, we budgeted an additional, I believe, it was $125,000, and [through] donor support, we are hoping to raise over a year to match that amount.’’

She added that the ministry aims to reignite opportunities for Virgin Islands students to represent their country at regional and international musical events, similar to past experiences.