$200,000 in Scholarships Awarded to Local High School Band Students Since Youth Pride Band’s Inception
Submitted by Diana Hanford
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA — The South Florida Pride Concert Band announced the South Florida Pride Youth Band Season 13 concert is scheduled for Sunday, February 25 at 7 p.m. at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts’ Amaturo Theater. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at browardcenter.org/events/detail/pride-concert-band-2024
The South Florida Pride Youth Band, comprised of 70 students representing 19 high schools throughout Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties, will join forces with members of the South Florida Pride Concert Band for this special event. Together, they will celebrate the music of Chandler Wilson Ph.D., Assistant Director of Athletic Bands and Assistant Professor of Music Education at Florida State University who will conduct the concert.
The evening’s program will include two specially commissioned instrumental scores: “Las Olas” composed by Dr. Wilson; and “Proud of Me” by Michele Fernández, a local composer, guest clinician, adjudicator and performer.
“We are incredibly proud to celebrate diversity through the power of music and create a safe space for marginalized young people,” said Dr. Adam DeRosa, board chair of the South Florida Pride Concert Band. “Our nonprofit is immensely grateful to our generous supporters who allow us to uplift these students financially and through musical mentorship.”
During the concert, the South Florida Pride Concert Band will award more than a dozen individual $1,000 scholarships to local high school band students. One exceptional student will receive a $7,500 scholarship care of the Second Annual FLoatarama Youth Pride Band Soloist competition and will be a featured as a soloist during the South Florida Pride Concert Band’s May 2024 concert.
A signature program of the South Florida Pride Concert Band since 2012, the non-profit arts organization has donated $200,000 in youth scholarships over the 13 seasons. It has also helped grow the South Florida Pride Youth Band’s membership base by more than 50% year-over-year.
“This significant growth is a clear indicator of the tremendous need to support the arts for young people and we are delighted to provide these gifted students with an invaluable opportunity to practice and perform alongside members of our band, some of whom are former professional musicians,” said Dan Bassett, artistic director for the South Florida Pride Concert Band.
The South Florida Pride Concert Band is celebrating its 37th season and is the oldest LGBTQ+ arts and cultural organization in the state of Florida.
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