South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble Hosted 12th Annual Youth Pride Band Concert

$23,000 in Scholarships Awarded to South Florida High School Band Students

Submitted by Diana Hanford 

 

Floatarama board members and supporters with select Youth Pride band members prior to the concert

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. — The South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble hosted its 12th Annual Youth Pride Band Concert and captivated the audience in the Broward Center for the Performing Arts’ Amaturo Theater on Sunday, February 26.

A highlight of the program was the scholarship presentation when 18 talented South Florida high school band students were awarded $1,000 individual scholarships. In addition to receiving a monetary prize, the students received invaluable musical mentorship, practicing for three consecutive weeks, and then performing, alongside veteran members of the South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble.

Djuniesha Joseph, Charles Moorer, Jr. band director of McArthur High School and Damien Orozco

Maggie Stuteville, a student at Hollywood Hills High School was the recipient of the inaugural FLoatarama Youth Pride Band Soloist competition and received a $5,000 scholarship care of the FLoatarama LGBTQ Youth Fund. A talented flutist, Maggie was invited to be a featured soloist at the South Florida Wind Ensemble’s upcoming Spring concert on May 13.

A signature program of the South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble, the nonprofit has distributed $182,000 in Youth Pride scholarship funds since 2012.

“With more people identifying as LGBTQ earlier in their lives, it is vital that we as a community continue to offer a safe space, protect adolescents from bullying and celebrate our diversity through the power of music,” said Adam DeRosa, board chair of the South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble.

The Youth Pride concert also featured several local school band directors who served as guest conductors and led the band through two incredible musical acts.

South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble members accompany the Youth Pride band on stage

The South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble is grateful for the generous support from the following scholarship sponsors: Gary Bressler, Ken Breznay, Scott Clearwater and Chris Ambs, Mike Dager and Harvey Shapiro Stronger Together Fund at The Our Fund Foundation, William Davis and Dan Elmore, Adam DeRosa and John Garcia, Equality Florida, FLoatrama, Robert and Jackie Glass, Alain Ortiz and Len Strickland, Safe Schools South Florida, Larry Small and David Burba, Charles Stanley and Blake Velde and Brian Fisher.

For more information on upcoming performances or how to support the South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble visit  pridewindensemble.org, email info@pridewindensemble.org or call (954) 667-9228

About Carma Henry 26087 Articles
Carma Lynn Henry Westside Gazette Newspaper 545 N.W. 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 Office: (954) 525-1489 Fax: (954) 525-1861

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