Continuing its ongoing support of its port-of-call communities, Carnival Cruise Line has partnered with U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Education (VIDE) to host a workshop for 20 music students aboard the Carnival Fascination while it was docked in St. Thomas earlier this week.

Following a backstage tour, students from the University of the Virgin Islands and four high schools in the area participated in a day-long workshop where they met with the ship’s performers and musicians to learn first-hand about careers in the music and entertainment industries. The day culminated in a lively jam session that provided students an opportunity to hone their craft playing alongside musicians from the Carnival Fascination.

A second tour is planned in the coming months to provide additional opportunities to fine-tune the students’ musical talents.

“After last year’s hurricane season, it’s been difficult for schools in the U.S. Virgin Islands to keep music and art programs operating at their full potential,” said Chris Nelson, Carnival’s senior director of entertainment.

“Over the last year, Carnival has been providing much-needed support to young musicians while creating special moments to inspire the next generation of entertainers,” added Sarah Beth Reno, Carnival’s vice president of entertainment.

“It gives me such joy to see how happy and optimistic our students feel about their futures after meeting with the talented Carnival Fascination team,” said Dionne Donadelle, VIDE’s territorial director of music. “Music and art are so important to our communities, so we are grateful to Carnival for their support – we feel very fortunate.”