On Wednesday (4/1) at NBC 6 South Florida (Miami), Ari Odzer writes about a recent visit to the Florida Youth Orchestra, when several FYO ensembles were rehearsing. “A flute orchestra is practicing in one room, a string ensemble in another, and other rooms are occupied by two full orchestras, all playing at the same time. Thomas Sleeper, a professor of music at the University of Miami, conducts FYO’s Principal Orchestra, the highest level among the organization’s seven musical groups.… ‘Myra Weaver, President and Chair of FYO … along with her late husband Bob Weaver, the legendary weatherman at WTVJ, founded FYO in 1988. The first year, 49 kids signed up. It grew exponentially over the years, with 400 student musicians now taking part. ‘It’s a game changer for children, they learn behavioral attributes like responsibility and commitment and flexibility,’ Weaver said, ‘and they gain a whole new peer group of friends who share a passion for music.’ … FYO plays concerts all over South Florida, from appearances at the Aventura Mall, the Miami Seaquarium, and Lincoln Road to regular concerts at Bailey Hall at Broward College.”
Posted April 3, 2015
