Centennial Commemorations

“De Vestindiske Øer” was a favorite jewel in the Danish crown from the landing of the first settlers on St. Thomas in 1661 until 1917 when Demark sold the islands to the USA. It’s not surprising that Danes and Islanders came together in 2017 to support some very creditable entertainment – delighted and edified by great music and scholarly lectures that complemented other inspiring events to celebrate the Centennial year of the Transfer.

Take a look at https://www.gotostcroix.com/st-croix-blog/transfer-day-centennial-commemoration/ to learn about other events that happened throughout the year.

Concert poster: Make A Joyful Noise – A Choral Salute to the USVI Centennial 2017. Click to view a larger version of the poster

Copenhagen Royal Chapel Choir on tour

The choir was performing at acoustically excellent locations in early May: Concerts at historic Lutheran churches on St. Thomas and St. Croix, Government House and the Reichhold Center for the Arts. A highlight of the series was a world premiere of a piece written for voice and steel pan.

Talking History

Histories from a Shared Past was a transatlantic lecture series that was repeated in three locations on both sides of the Atlantic: St. Croix, St. Thomas and Copenhagen. These talks brought together some of the most knowledgeable scholarly voices to review the history of the US Virgin Islands from the arrival of the first people until today.

Different presentations were held for two evenings focusing on the relations, connections and exchanges between people, ideas and objects in the islands on a regional, Atlantic and global scale. The series was partially funded by the Solar Foundation, Denmark, the USVI Centennial Commission, Dr. and Mrs. R.R. Evans, the Society of Virgin Islands Historians and coordinated by the Danish West Indian Society and both the St. Croix and the St. Thomas/St. John Friends of Denmark Societies.

Programme

St. Thomas Episcopal Church, New York,
”Missa Papae Marcelli”, Friday April 28th at 7.30 pm.

Lord God of Sabaoth Evangelical Lutheran Church, Christiansted, St. Croix
Centennial Mass, Sunday April 30th at 9.30 am.

Government House Ballroom, Christiansted, St. Croix
Opening Night Concert, Tuesday May 2nd at 7 pm.

Saint Patrick Church, Frederiksted, St. Croix
Concert, Wednesday May 3rd at 6.30 pm.

VI Montessori School & International Academy, St. Thomas
Workshop, Friday May 5th

Reichhold Center for the Arts, St. Thomas
Concert, Saturday May 6th at 7 pm.

Frederick Lutheran Church, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
Centennial Mass, Sunday May 7th at 9 am.

Tours around the world

Read more about the Copenhagen Royal Chapel Choir’s concert tours: Tours