Breaking

ST. THOMAS — The Reichhold Center for the Arts kicks-off its 37^th season with a homage to Hispanic Heritage month, featuring dynamic, 10-time Grammy Award-winning jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, a press release the University of the Virgin Islands, which owns Reichhold, has made known. The performance takes place at 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 3.

Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated throughout the United States and in the Virgin Islands, pays tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched the nation and society.

In keeping with the theme, the night will feature an opening set from St. Croix’s celebrated Stanley and the 10 Sleepless Knights. A native of Puerto Rico, Jacobs and his band have become ambassadors of local Virgin Islands quelbe music, along with a unique fusion of Latin rhythms.

Sandoval was born in Artemisa, a small town in the outskirts of Havana, Cuba. Despite his poor upbringing, he was exposed to musical instruments and began practicing at an early age.

His music career was formed against the backdrop of the political strife and repression in Cuba. The trumpeter’s music life changed when in 1977 he met legendary trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie in Cuba. Gillespie became what Sandoval calls “a spiritual father.” He soon became a protégé of Gillespie.

Sandoval and Gillespie played together in concerts in Europe and Cuba.

While touring with Gillespie in 1990, Sandoval defected to the United States of America to seek political asylum.

He has since evolved into one of the world’s most acknowledged guardians of jazz trumpet and flugelhorn, as well as a renowned classical artist, pianist and composer.

Sandoval has also received six Billboard Awards and an Emmy Award. The latter for his composing work on the entire underscore of the HBO movie based on his life, “For Love or Country” that starred actor Andy Garcia as Arturo.

Sandoval’s contribution to highlighting the social ills in Cuba prompted President Obama to make him a recipient of the 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom Award. In September, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation named Sandoval one of the 2015 Hispanic Heritage Awards honorees who will be recognized at the 28th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards.

Prior to his Reichhold Center performance, Sandoval will conduct an “Arts in Education” workshop on Friday, Oct. 2, in which junior high school, high school and UVI music students will receive an opportunity to interact with the musician and gain an understanding of his techniques and experiences. The workshop is sponsored by Innovative and the VI Council on the Arts.

Reichhold Center continues its celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month with two much anticipated events.

The center will host the premiere of the locally-produced film “Timeless,” at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10. Produced by local filmmaker Edward LaBorde, Jr. the film features a cast of actors from the Virgin Islands community and draws on themes of love, history and racial tolerance.

On Sunday, Oct. 11, Reichhold joins with the VI-Puerto Rico Friendship Day Committee and the 31^st Legislature to present Guateque Ballet Folklorico de Puerto Rico. The event begins at 5 p.m. with a culinary arts expose on the Reichhold grounds, and continues with the dance performance, dubbed “Caribbean Colors in Dance,” at 7 p.m. Also performing will be the Ulla Muller Elementary School Bamboula Dancers, students from Dancing Classrooms, and the St. Thomas Heritage Dancers.

The Reichhold Center for the Arts, celebrating 37 years, is the flagship performing arts center for the University of the Virgin Islands.

The Reichhold Center’s 37^th season is sponsored by International Capital and Management Company, VI Lottery, Innovative, Marriott Frenchman’s Reef Resort, Tropical Shipping and the VI Council on the Arts.

For more information on the Reichhold Center and the season opener visit www.reichholdcenter.org. To purchase tickets, call the Reichhold box office at (340) 693-1559. For inquiries into sponsorship and Stagebill advertising contact Ian Turnbull at[email protected] or (340)693-1554.