Soup is often considered the ultimate soothing meal and, similarly, music touches the soul. Partners for Strings is bringing these two components together, while raising money for its free after-school youth program.
The public is invited to the Partners for Strings Virgin Islands Youth Orchestra’s first signature fundraising event, the “V.I. Soup Masters Competition,” on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Emancipation Garden on St. Thomas.
The public will enjoy tasting various soups and voting for their favorites, as well as dynamic live music and fun family activities.
Different restaurants and non-restaurant companies are providing soups in various categories, including Seafood Chowder and popular options like Chicken, Vegetable, Pea, Pumpkin, and Vegan. Other favorite soup entries include Goat Water and Sancocho, a hearty Dominican mixed meats soup.
On board to deliver their best soups and dishes are the St. Thomas Federal Credit Union, We Grow Food Inc., Love Livin’ Vegan (Catering), An Hour Late/Dive Bar/Pit & Pickle Provisions, BurgerMaxx, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Nomads Hull Bay Bar and Grill (who teamed with the USVI Office of Gun Violence Prevention), Hart’s Kitchen, Rancho Latino, and Cravin’ Crabs. Bread will be provided by House of Patries Bakery and Deli.
Soup Tasting Tickets can be purchased before and during the event. A Book of Five Tasting Tickets is $25, and single tickets are $5. Soup tasters are encouraged to take it to the next level and vote for their favorite soups. Each Soup Taster will receive a Voting Token to cast their vote by placing their token in a Voting Bin next to their soup choice. The votes will be tallied at 1 p.m. and the awards ceremony for the first place winning soups in each category will take place at 1:30 p.m.
The “V.I. Soup Masters Competition” event co-hosts are George Silcott II and Kandis Gumbs, along with guest host, Chef Benjamin Kraft of St. Thomas Cooks. These hosts will share details about the event and “talk soup;” that is, giving their thoughts about the different soups. The event will be live streamed on social media to catch all the action, but attending the event is the only way to experience pure deliciousness.
Founded by Gloria Gumbs in 2020, Partners for Strings runs the Partners for Strings Virgin Islands Youth Orchestra. The free after-school program for at-risk youth, ages 6 to 17, offers weekly training in orchestral instruments at G-Clef Music Academy on St. Thomas. These instruments include the violin, cello, brass, woodwinds, percussion, and steel pan. Administrative support is provided through Miami Music Project, a transformative orchestra program based in Miami-Dade County.
PFS also offers “Youth Orchestra Afternoons in the Summer,” a month-long intensive training opportunity held in June to welcome new recruits. The summer program includes “Musician’s Elevation Workshops,” led by master musicians from the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra. The summer program helps jumps-start new recruits and enhances the skills of current members.
The whole family will be entertained with live music by the event’s main performer — the Partners for Strings Virgin Islands Youth Orchestra. They will feature Quelbe, Reggae, Jazz, Classical, and Pop music. Unique orchestral arrangements in the lineup include: The Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing”; a Latin-style version of the Jazz standard, “Take Five”; an historic Quelbe medley, “Sly Mongoose” and “Queen Mary,” and Steel Pulse’s Reggae classic, “Roller Skates,” which will have its debut performance on St. Thomas.
These selections first appeared at the St. Croix Agriculture Food Fair’s 54th AgriFest and were arranged by the multi-talented Kandis Gumbs. Several other special guests will also perform and fun activities, such as face painting and giant games, will make it an amazing family event.
“We appreciate the dedication of our students, parents and partners who are making this event successful,” said Gumbs. “They include G-Clef Music Academy, J. Benton Construction, Keswick Insurance, A90films, Happy Times Entertainment, Creative Marketing Center, KLR Restaurant Supplies, Rashida A. Hodge Charitable Fund, Discover Fund Management, LLLP, Thriving Charity Advocates, and Lew Henley’s Sewage Disposal.”
For more information about Partners for Strings, Inc.’s V.I. Soup Masters Competition, call 340-228-1126 or visit www.partnersforstrings.org.
