In Wednesday’s (12/3) Tampa Tribune (Florida), Keith Morelli reports that Joan Steinbrenner is continuing the Steinbrenner Family Children’s Holiday concerts, a tradition “started by her late husband, George Steinbrenner, owner of the Yankees and one of Tampa’s favorite sons…. For the past 26 years, the family has sponsored the free concerts for underprivileged and at-risk children of the Tampa Bay region, featuring The Florida Orchestra and the Ballet Theater International…. This year, the concerts take place over three days, the first of which was Tuesday morning in Ferguson Hall at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. In all, about 5,400 third-, fourth- and fifth-graders from Hillsborough and Pinellas counties will be treated to music and fun, said Howard Grosswirth, vice president of marketing for the Yankees…. ‘I liked the instruments, said Ladarius Mobley, 12, who attends Jackson Elementary School in Plant City, ‘and the way they make music.’ … John Wilson, the recently retired anchor for WTVT Channel 13, was the master of ceremonies and gave a short tutorial on the orchestra, introducing the different sections—the strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion—and how they work together to make symphonic music under the direction of guest conductor Robert Romanski…. Yankees pitcher Bryan Mitchell read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and urged the children to find something you are passionate about in their lives and follow it.”
Posted December 4, 2014
