The South Florida Youth Symphony, one of the nation’s premier youth music organizations, is joining with the Brevard Music Center, one of the country’s leading summer training programs, to offer scholarships to the famed Brevard Summer Music Festival beginning in 2019.
“Being able to work with an organization such as the Brevard Music Center and offer scholarships to their Summer Festival is a major step for the South Florida Youth Symphony,” said Marjorie Hahn, SFYS executive director. “Brevard is one of the top music programs in the world and joining with them will provide incredible opportunities for our students.”
The Gold-Medal winning SFYS, which kicked off its 54th season in south Florida, recently performed at Carnegie Hall in New York — thanks to a major donation from the Gloria Estefan Foundation — and is participating in the Prague Bohemia Youth Music Festival in 2019.
Cost to attend the Brevard Summer Music Festival is normally $7,200, but as part of the Brevard Music Center Scholars Program, the SFYS will receive four half scholarships.
“Obviously, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our students, many of which have never even been out of Miami-Dade County,” Hahn said. “But we need to do some significant fundraising — including finding substantial matching gift sponsors — to help these kids, most of whom come from underserved areas of our community.”
Located on a picturesque 180-acre campus situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, the Brevard Music Center is considered one of the world’s premier summer training programs and festivals.
Under the artistic direction of acclaimed conductor Keith Lockhart, principal conductor of the Boston Pops and chief guest conductor of the BBC Orchestra in London, 500 gifted students (ages 14 through post-college) come to the Music Center each summer to study with distinguished faculty and renowned guest artists. From the end of June to the beginning of August, students participate in a rigorous program of instruction and performance including orchestral ensembles, private lessons, chamber music, and opera.
“The South Florida Youth Symphony has produced some outstanding musicians over the years,” said Jason Posnock, BMC’s director of Artistic Planning and Educational Programs. “We’re proud to team with them to offer these musicians the opportunity to attend Brevard Music Center.”
For more information and to donate to the South Florida Youth Symphony scholarship program, visit SFYS.net or phone 305-238-2729.
