Partners for Strings Virgin Islands Youth Orchestra presents its 2025 Christmas Concert on Tuesday, Nov. 11 on Veteran’s Day, at 7 p.m. at the Mt. Zion New Testament Church in Tutu. This year’s concert theme, “Musical Conversations at Christmas Time”, will show the dynamics of how music communicates its important messages to everyone. The public is invited, but this year the youth orchestra is selling tickets for the holiday event to raise funds for its after-school program. Tickets are $10.00, and $5.00 for children under 12. Members are currently selling tickets, and attendees can pay at the door. The doors open at 6:30pm.
The youth orchestra is run by Partners for Strings, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization that was established in 2020 to operate a FREE weekly after-school music program for children, ages 6 to 17, on the island of St. Thomas. The program President, Gloria Gumbs, said the Partners for Strings Virgin Islands Youth Orchestra uses music as a means to impact the lives of children at risk. Twenty-nine youth orchestra members will perform in the concert on violin, cello, flute, trumpet, clarinet, saxophone, steel pan, bass guitar, and drums as part of the Intermediate/Advanced and Primer/Beginner Ensembles. The orchestra is conducted by Urbane Chinnery.
The Christmas concert will feature a variety of songs for the season, including “My Favorite Things” from “The Sound of Music”, “The Winter” (from Dancing Line), which was arranged by Kandis Gumbs, and many classic holiday favorites. The special guests joining the concert include professional master musicians: Jonte Samuel, Aben Marrero, Cliff Finch, Lenard Fleming, James H. Gumbs, Jr., and Kandis Gumbs. A few G-Clef Music Academy students will join these professionals to perform “Silent Night”.
Gloria Gumbs added, “The amazing talents of the young members of the Partners for Strings Virgin Islands Youth Orchestra are attributed to their hard work and dedication to learning how to read music and play well. We also appreciate the talented teaching artists who set a high standard for our young members. Because of their dynamic commitment, the students ‘play with altitude’! In addition, we thank the powerhouses behind the scenes: our board members and parents; along with our national and local partners: Miami Music Project (our Alliance Partner in Miami-Dade County), G-Clef Music Academy, VI Housing Authority, the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra Educational Programs, and Mt. Zion New Testament Church. In addition, we recognize our continued supporters: Thriving Charity Advocates; J Benton Construction, LLC; Discover Fund Management, LLLP; Cutlass and Cane Caribbean Seafood Restaurant; MSI Building Supplies; Fabric and Fashion Playroom; Street Level VI; VI Legislature; and VI Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation. We always welcome more community partners to join our mission to transform young lives in the U.S. Virgin Islands through music.”
For more information about the youth orchestra, how to join and support, visit www.partnersforstrings.org or call (340) 228-1126.
