Where it all started
History
In 1970, a steel band program was established through the St. John Community Arts Foundation directed by Rudy Wells. The band, “Steel Unlimited”, was comprised of twenty eight young St. Johnians with Ruth “Sis” Frank as manager. It was “The Pride and Joy of St. John” with performances in the Rose Bowl parade, Disneyland, Lincoln Center, and Shea Stadium, and recordings at Criteria Studios in Miami. Out of the success of the steel band, the concept for the St. John School of the Arts (SJSA) was born. Through private donations, land was purchased in 1981 to build a school, which took 10 years to complete with mostly volunteer labor.
During the building of the school, classes in art, musical theatre, photography, piano and Orff music were taught at different locations like churches, restaurants, etc. on St. John. In-school Orff music programs were established in public and private schools on St. John.
1990
By 1990, SJSA’s building was complete and Steel Unlimited II created. This band had 60 island performances yearly, and month-long tours in Denmark, Germany, and New York, and later in France and Switzerland. With our beautiful facility completed, workshops in women’s self defense, Isadora Duncan movement, an introduction to yoga and an Orff workshop for 18 teachers from surrounding islands were offered within the first year and “Steel Unlimited II” continued touring Europe and the US. As the years progressed the school adopted modern dance; ballet; tap; ballroom dance; strings; brass and woodwinds into the curriculum. Later creative movement, steel band, and art were added to the in-school programs.
By 1998, Mr. Wells continued to teach steel pan in programs like the Beacon after school program, in-school program for high school students at Coral Bay School (now Gifft Hill School) as well as outreach programs to students in Bucharest, Romania and Rome, NY. Additional in-school programs in dance, recorder and art were extended to St. John Christian Academy (SJCA) and Julius E. Sprauve School (JESS). Collaborating with Arts Alive and Tortola, SJSA established an annual concert series, bringing in professional, high caliber musicians, ranging from classical to blues.
Early 2000s
In 2001 eight students from Bates College, Maine traveled to St. John to participate in a 10-week steel pan intensive program directed by Wells. In 2004 Jan Kinder was named Assistant Director. SJSA collaborated with Columbia College Black Music Research and Alton Adams Music Research and hosted Summit on St. John. This event honored and recognized local traditional music bearers.
In 2006 Ms. Frank stepped down as Executive Director and Jan Kinder assumed the position. For the next few years, classes continued to expand for after school and in-school programming with a Total Arts Program (TAP) for JESS. Kindergarten through 9th grade students came once a week to SJSA to receive a variety of classes in music, movement and art for the entire school year.
In 2011, School of the Arts building was renamed as Sis Frank Performance Hall. Later in the year, Kinder stepped down as Executive Director with Wild becoming Acting Director and Mr. Eddie Bruce as Music Education Director. SJSA partners with Dion Parson who is director/founder of 21st Century Band and “Mentoring Through the Arts through Music” program. This program was designed to work with students who show promise on a musical instrument and prepare them to perform as a band.
In 2012, Jan Kinder left her position as Executive Director and Kim Wild assumed the position.
Present
From 2013 to the present, St John School of the Arts has really turned a corner. SJSA brings world renowned musicians to the island each year for the Sis Frank Concert Series.
Broadway Comes to St John continues to be one of the most highly anticipated annual community events.
The collaborative efforts of our Board, Staff and other Volunteers have enabled St John School of the Arts to bring world-renowned musicians, actors and artists to the island through various themed events which continue to be community favorites.
Community support has allowed St John School of the Arts to continue bringing Arts Education to the children of St John for over 40 years. We are eternally grateful to Rudy Wells and Sis Frank. It is through their perseverance and dedication that the SJSA is what it is today, helping each student reach his/her artistic potential in a supportive nurturing environment.
