Woodson Music Students To Perform At Memorial Day Event, Spring Concert And Jazz In The Park

ST. CROIX – As the school year winds down, the John H. Woodson Jr. High School music department is gearing up for a host of musical performances and invites the community to attend.

According to a press release issued by the Department of Education on Friday, the group’s performance schedule is as follows:

• The Jazz Ensemble will perform at a Memorial Day event on Monday, May 25 at the Verne I. Richards Veterans Memorial Park on the Frederiksted waterfront beginning at 4 p.m. The group was the first band to perform at the park when the waterfront was rebuilt 10 years ago.
• The Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble will hold their annual Spring Concert on Thursday, May 28 at 7 p.m. in the school’s auditorium.
• On Friday, May 29, the Jazz Ensemble will perform at the monthly Jazz in the Park event at the Christiansted bandstand, beginning at 5 p.m.
• On Saturday, May 30 the Jazz Ensemble will open for renowned drummer, Dion Parson, at Fort Frederik beginning at 6 p.m.

Attendees can expect to hear a mixture of classic and contemporary works by a range of jazz musicians, including Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Chuck Mangione. Student soloists on saxophone, trumpet and vocals will also be featured prominently at the performances.

Woodson Music Instructor and Band Director, Mr. Mario Thomas, praised students’ work ethic. “If students are willing to put in the work and go the extra mile, we work with them,” he said.

Thomas, who has taught music at Woodson for almost two decades, and even longer at various schools on St. Croix combined, said he enjoys teaching students to play music and then observing them after they have performed.

“One of the brightest moments for me is to see how happy students are when they come off the stage after performing,” he said. “With them having that sense of accomplishment and feeling good about what they do is very rewarding.”

All events are free and open to the public. However, Thomas said the band accepts donations to continue its efforts.