The Gold Medal-winning South Florida Youth Symphony (SFYS), one of the nation’s leading youth music organizations, recently played the National Anthem at the AmericanAirlines Arena much to the delight of the Miami Heat crowd.
“The kids did an incredible job,” said Richard A. Zogaib, SFYS associate conductor. “The crowd gave them a standing ovation. It was quite an experience for everyone.”
The Heat game performance was just a “tuneup” for the SFYS’ next trip, an eight-day trip to Uruguay and Argentina in March. The trip will include performances in Montevideo, Uruguay and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
“For many of these kids — who come from underserved areas of South Florida — this will be their first trip outside of Miami-Dade County, let alone the country,” said Marjorie Hahn, SFYS executive and musical director. “For many of them, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They’ll get to be musical ambassadors of goodwill from America.”
Of course, for the 55-year-old SFYS, trips like this one are nothing new. In the past three years the organization has visited Washington, DC for the Presidential Inauguration, played at Carnegie Hall and traveled to Prague in the Czech Republic. During both the Washington and Prague trips, the SFYS won Gold Medals during competitions.
What is new, however, is the cost of the trip — nearly $2,800 per person, making this the most expensive trip in SFYS history.
“We’re asking for help of the South Florida Community,” Hahn said. “For many of these young musicians, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They’ll get to be musical ambassadors of goodwill from America.”
The public can donate to the Youth Symphony’s South American trip at www.gofundme.com/f/b4mf3-a-cause-i-care-about-needs-help;
email at MakeMusic@sfys.net or phone at 305-238-2729.
