Tempo Times - Greater Miami Youth Symphony

TH E
TEMPO
Times
Greater Miami Youth Symphony
Volume 1, Issue 2, September 2015
Symphony Orchestra rehearsing Stravinsky’s Firebird
2015-2016 Music Season is off to an
Exhilarating Start!
On, September 13th, 900 children and families clamored to register
for the new season ushering the Greater Miami Youth Symphony
2015-2016 music season officially underway!
The air was full of excitement as friends reunited
after the long summer break and new friends and
families joined the ranks of our GMYS community.
Children registered for 6 full orchestras- Young
Mozarts Orchestra, String Orchestra,Young Sousas,
Concert Orchestra, Concert Band, Jazz Band,
Symphony Orchestra, various chamber ensembles
including Symphony Chamber and ___________,
and 9 preparatory programs.
Led by our new Executive Director Cerise Sutton,
Assistant Director Keisha Firth and Musical Director Huifang Chen, we
welcomed both new and returning conductors eager to inspire our
musicians and elevate the level of music throughout the community:
Conducting the Young Mozarts Orchestra is Ms. Sandra Rubio,
violinist. Ms. Rubio studied at the Conservatorio Profesional Arturo
Soria in Madrid, received her Bachelor of Music from Lynn University
and a Master of Music from University of Miami. Ms. Rubio is
currently Principal Second Violin of Ars Flores, a member of Palm
Beach Pops Orchestra, and a guest violinist at the National Orchestra
of Dominican Republic. In addition to her private violin studio, Ms.
Rubio is currently a violin and chamber music
instructor at St. Mark’s Episcopal School and at
Key Biscayne Strings.
Conducting the Young Sousas is Mr. Oliver Diez.
Mr. Diez earned a BA in Music Education from
Florida International University and is a teacher
at Palmetto Elementary School. Throughout the
past years he has helped develop a strong music
program by starting a chorus, string orchestra,
salsa dancers club, a full concert band, and a
jazz ensemble. Mr. Diez’s Palmetto Singers and
Concert Band have received countless Superior ratings at the annual
Music U.S.A. Festival in Orlando, Florida where his concert band has
been declared one of the three top elementary concert bands in the
state. Recently Mr. Diez received a proclamation from the Mayor of the
Village of Pinecrest naming June 7th, 2011 “Oliver Diez Day.
Conducting the Concert Orchestra is Mr. Bringle Cidel. Mr. Cidel
earned a Master’s of Music in Composition from Florida Atlantic
University and a Bachelor’s of Music Education from Florida A&M
continued on page 2...
FromThe
PRESIDENT
Welcome!
On behalf of the
Board of Trustees
of the Greater
Miami
Youth
Symphony,
I
would like to
extend a warm
welcome to all of
you as we begin
our 57th season
of making music!
It is my privilege
to serve as the
President
of
GMYS this year.
I have two children who found a home in this very special
organization, and I serve on the Board in an effort to give back to
GMYS just a small measure of the extraordinary gift that Allegra and
Ethan have enjoyed. I have been a volunteer with GMYS since 2007,
previously serving as President from 2010-2014. I plan to attend
rehearsals at one or both of our campuses most Sundays throughout
the year, and my email address is available on our website. I look
forward to hearing from you with your ideas or concerns as we work
together to make this a wonderful season for our children!
This year, we will be publishing a monthly newsletter in an effort
to keep you informed of current events in our organization. The
“Board Corner” provides us an opportunity to tell you a little about
the Officers and Trustees, as well as some of the work that we are
doing for the organization. In the last issue of the newsletter, you
had a chance to meet Jill White, who spent countless hours in the
spring and early summer as the Chair of the Search Committee. This
month, we will highlight Michael Marquez, who has been sharing his
time and talents with GMYS as a member of the Board since 2012.
Please check back in October, and meet two Board members who are
musicians with the Alhambra Orchestra, and who will be sharing the
stage with our kids during the Spooky Symphony performance at the
Arsht Center on October 25.
Thank you for everything you do to provide an amazing
experience for the nearly 900 young musicians who
are a part of the Greater Miami Youth Symphony!
...continued from cover
University. Currently Mr. Cidel serves as conductor of Bands and
Orchestra at Dr. Michael M. Krop Sr. High School, where ensembles
consistently receive the highest possible ratings district and state
levels. As a freelance composer, Mr. Cidel’s works has been published
and performed nationally.
Conducting the Concert Band is Mr. Brent Mounger. Mr. Mounger
earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Stetson University.
Currently Mr. Mounger is the Wind Ensemble Director at New World
School of the Arts. He is also the Bass Trombonist with the Miami
Wind Symphony, a professional Wind Ensemble in South Florida. His
professional memberships
include: the College
Band Directors National
Association, the National
Band
Association,
the Music Educators’
National Conference, the
Florida Music Educators’
Association, the Florida
Bandmasters Association,
and Phi Mu Alpha.
Scott O’Donnell guest conducting
Conducting the Jazz
Symphony String Chamber Ensemble.
Band is Erich Rivero. Mr.
Rivero is a product of the Miami-Dade County Public School System
having graduated from Southwest Miami Senior High School. He
earned an Associate in Arts Degree from Miami Dade Community
College and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from
Florida International University. While at Florida International
University, he studied Applied Trumpet with Mr. Arturo Sandoval. Mr.
Rivero is currently in his seventh year as the Band Director at Glades
Middle School in Miami-Dade County. In May of 2014, Mr. Rivero was
named as a Quarter Finalist for the Grammy Music Educator Award
out of over seven thousand nominees.
Our newest member is our String Orchestra Conductor Mr. Keenan
Ellis. Mr. Ellis is both a native Miami orchestral musician and educator
teaching in the Miami-Dade County Public School system and a GMYS
alumni. He earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Florida
State University and is currently enrolled in the Summer Master of
Music Education degree program with the same institution. Mr. Ellis
directs high school orchestra, band, and jazz ensembles in addition
to teaching music theory courses at Bridgeprep Academy of Arts and
Minds.
In addition to our conductors in residence, throughout the year we
will have various guest conductors share their talents with
our musicians along with collaborations with the Alhambra
Orchestra, New World Symphony and many others.
The experience and education our conductors bring to the
program makes this an exceptional time to be a part of
GMYS. We welcome back our returning families and extend
a warm greeting to our newest members. We look forward
to an exciting season of music!
Fondly,
Laurie Hill
Timothy Shade, Conductor of
the Alhambra Orchestra, guest
conducting Symphony.
C
Clear your calendar!
You cannot be too
Bizet for the Bach sale!
B
O
O
AR
RN
D
ER
L-R: Ms. Ana Celia Melendez, parent of clarinetist extraordinaire Grecia, and
on the right is Mayra Busse, mother of Sarah, CoConcertmaster.
Our Symphony Parent Members are leading the team of volunteers!
Under the direction of Mrs. Linda Liu, a long time parent member,
member of the board of GMYS, and parent to Laura Liu - Symphony
Viola and Chen’s Chamber musician, the parents have setup a weekly
snack sale for our muscians to recharge and re-energize during
rehearsal breaks.
“
Michael Marquez- Mr. Marquez is a managing director and
Florida region head for Bessemer Trust, responsible for overseeing the
management of client relationships and new business development
for our offices in Miami, Naples, and Palm Beach. He is a member
of Bessemer’s Management Committee and Banking and Loan
Committee.
Each month parents can sign up to bring, setup
and sell goodies on a rotating basis. The
snack sale includes chips, cookies, brownies,
Prior to joining Bessemer in 2009, Mr. Marquez was a managing
drinks: water, gatorade, soda, an “entree”
director at J.P. Morgan’s Private Bank, after serving as a member
Linda & Laura
item that changes every week: burgers,
of the firm’s mergers and acquisitions investment banking
GMYS parent member and musician
pizza, dumplings, empanadas, hot dogs Participating in the Snack Team
group in New York. Before that, he spent several years at
or sandwiches.
is a great way to meet other PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he was a manager in the
symphony parents, the kids and global capital markets group.
Snack proceeds last year were used Ms Chen who loves Cheetos. It
to purchase the box lunches for our
He serves as the immediate past chairman on the board of
is really a community service.
musicians at the Spooky Symphony,
trustees
of The Miami Foundation and on the board of directors
Ms Chen works the kids hard
increased the grant amount for the Smiddy
of
Amigos
for Kids, Baptist Health Enterprises, Baptist Outpatient
and they NEED a break.
Scholarship, and funded an additional
Services, and the Greater Miami Youth Symphony. He also serves
scholarship awarded by Ms Chen. Snacks are
as chairman of the investment advisory committee of the Perez Art
a win/win as everything goes right back to the
Museum Miami.
kids.
Mr. Marquez received an M.B.A. with honors from Columbia Business
We would like to thank our parent members who helped us this
School and a B.S. magna cum laude from Boston College. He is a
month: Mayra Busse - parent to Sarah- violin; Ana Celia Melendez
Certified Public Accountant and is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.
- parent to Grecia, clarinet; Linda Liu - parent to Laura, violin; Zuli
Paulus - parent to Joshua, violin; Jennifer Buttrick - parent to Zachary,
As a parent member of GMYS and active member of the board for
violin; Sarait Betancourt- parent to Alex and Alain - violins; and
the past 3 years, Mr. Marquez and his wife Vanessa are the parents of
Marlene Patino - parent to Alexandro, violin.
Isabella, in the Concert Orchestra ensemble and Natalia, in the Strings
orchestra program. His wife Vanessa is also active as a parent liaison
OCTOBER SNACK TEAM REMINDER
for the Concert Orchestra ensemble.
October 4, 2015: Patricia Molina, Helen Zhang and Yao Li
October 11, 2015: Sandra Rancano, Nicole Ravinet and Barbara Calvo
“Neither one of us (my wife and I) have musical backgrounds,” says
October 18, 2015: Brunella Barnet, Ana Celia Melendez, Nathan Vuong
Marquez. “Seeing the children perform not only in the orchestra
and Gabriel Gonzalez
but within small chamber ensembles is very rewarding - and the
impact that doing so is having in their development and maturity is
If you would like the opportunity to join our parent member snack
invaluable. We really love the program and the family-like community
team please contact Linda Liu at lscliu@aol.com.
atmosphere”
”
SAVE THE DATE
Dr Walter Busse introducing Executive Director Cerise Sutton to the Symphony parent member meeting.
Parent Meetings Jump Start
Participation!
The Executive Director would like to invite
parent members of GMYS to join her for a
light brunch the third Sunday rehearsal of
every month.
October 18th, 2015
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Frost School of Music - Volpe 101
University of Miami
On September, 20th the Miami Dade School Ensembles (MDC) had their first parent meeting
and were treated to the first “Brunch with Cerise”. Parents who attended were treated to
continental brunch and coffee on the breezway at the college. It was a great relaxed informal
setting for parents to commune with each other and with new Executive Director Cerise Sutton,
asl questions and get to know each other on a more personal level
Following the brunch was the parent meeting. Parents were introduce to staff members in the
audience, learned about GMYS guidelines, attendance policies and performance dress codes.
Parents also had the opportunity to ask questions.
In addition this year, parent members also signed up to participate in three new parent groups:
Running Club, Walking Club and Book Club. all of which will meet at MDC at the time of the
ensemble rehearsals. The response to each of which was overwhelming!
If you were unable to attend the meeting and would like to sign up or lead one of our new
Parent Member groups, please send us an email at info@gmys.org.
Be Ready For Picture Day!
Young Mozart, Sousas, String and Concert Orchestra/Band
Sunday, October TBA
Girls: Long sleeved white blouse, long black skirt, black shoes.
Boys: Long sleeved white shirt and tie, black trousers, black shoes and socks (NO tennis
shoes, jeans or white socks!)
Symphony Orchestra
Sunday, October TBA
Girls: Long black dress, skirt, or pants, long black sleeves, black shoes. (NO JEANS)
Boys: Black tuxedo, black shoes and socks, white shirt, black bow tie.
Donated Concert tuxedoes are available for scholarship families that need them.
Please contact the GMYS office for size availability.
Sunday, October 25, 2015
at 4:00 p.m.
Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
Outreach Concert
Sunday, October 4
Miami Beach Library
PICTURE DAY
Symphony:
Sunday, October TBA
MDC Ensembles:
Sunday, October TBA
Board of Directors
Laurie Hill
Walter Busse
Linda Collins
Dinora Casanova
Jill Sharon White
Terry Bonelli
Helen Hauser
Bogdan Chruszcz
Velia Yedra
Paul Strassburg
Scherazade King
Michael Marquez
Jennifer Mendoza
Additional sources: Heritage House - 12105 S Dixie Highway Miami, FL www.boyssuits.com
Mr Tux - 12004 SW 88 Street Miami, FL
Consignment Corner- 8267 SW 124 Street Miami, FL
Online sources for complete tuxedo packages: StageAccents.com Uniformalwearhouse.com
5275 Sunset Dr, Miami, FL 33143
Phone: 305.667.4069
www.gmysmusic.org