Carol De Frank
Youth Orchestra Makes Beautiful Music
If Beethoven, Bach, Verdi and Mozart were sitting in the audience listening to
the Southwest Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra play their famous compositions,
none would find fault with their performance.
The Youth Orchestra, led by musical director and symphony conductor Michael A.
Simpson, is a group of the best young musicians from Lee and surrounding
counties.
Before they were adopted by the Southwest Florida Symphony, the orchestra was
known as the Palm Coast Youth Symphony. “We struggled financially for 14 years,”
says board member Tom Kracmer, a tuba player in the Symphony. “Then, in 1999, we
were invited to operate under the umbrella of the Symphony. We were very pleased
to join them.”
“The Symphony is involved in many educational programs so it was a good marriage
right from the beginning,” continues Kracmer, who also coaches the brass section
and brass quintet. “We’ve been able to accomplish so much more with them as our
mentors than we could have on our own.”
As part of the important outreach activities of the parent organization, the
Symphony provides quality symphonic training and performance
experience for young musicians as they develop their skills. “Symphony
resources give us the benefit of a professional coaching staff as their members
willingly share knowledge and experience,” says Kracmer, “and that’s a major
advantage for these young people.”
Another advantage the Youth Orchestra enjoys is occasionally rehearsing with
Symphony conductor Paul Nadler. They also perform in an annual side-by-side
concert at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall.
A major part of acceptance into the program is that potential members must
actively participate in their existing school band or orchestra. Only a
legitimate class scheduling conflict is considered grounds for exemption. All
musicians are also encouraged to take private lessons.
Schools, music stores and music teachers are informed of audition dates. They
are held at the beginning of the season in August and mid-season in January.
Special auditions are granted only on rare occasion.
Approximately 100 boys and girls are selected from the group of 150 to 200 who
try out each year. During auditions applicants must play a musical selection,
the musical scales and demonstrate sight-reading ability.
Musicians auditioning in August may not be ready, but they are encouraged to
practice and try again in January. Many demonstrate considerable improvement and
are accepted on their second try. The youngest member is 10 and the oldest is 19
(the cut off age is 21).
Once accepted, members are expected to remain for a full season, barring
extenuating circumstances. Few resign their position, however to continue,
current members are required to audition annually. Symphony season runs parallel
to the school season: September through April.
The Orchestra is comprised of the Youth Symphony, an advanced full symphonic
orchestra directed by Simpson, and the Sinfonietta, a quality intermediate
string orchestra led by Nanette Grant. Simpson played in the viola section of
the Virginia Symphony and the Peninsula Symphony of Virginia. He was the
principal violist at Norfolk State University where he earned a Bachelor
of Science in Public School Music. Grant has extensive teaching experience and
is Orchestra Director at both Pine Ridge Middle and Gulfview Middle schools in
Collier County.
Younger students, elementary through middle school, begin their music careers by
joining the Sinfonietta, the training ground for the Orchestra. High school
students and advanced middle school musicians make up the Youth Orchestra.
Members of the Sinfonietta are given the opportunity to advance during late
spring auditions. Successful students’ seats are determined and announced by the
conductors.
In an effort to instill values and discipline through musical experiences,
Sinfonietta members are expected to attend weekly rehearsals as well as to bring
their own music and music stands. Only three excused absences are permitted.
These include illness, family emergencies and conflicting school music
functions. If students miss a rehearsal or are not dressed appropriately they
are not permitted to participate in the up-coming concert. Professionalism in
speech and conduct is mandatory at all times.
Concert attire for the Sinfonietta consists of official Symphony formal wear.
For the ladies this consists of a long or calf-length black skirt or slacks,
long-sleeved white blouse, black hose and black dress shoes. Gentlemen’s attire
is black slacks, black socks and black dress shoes, long-sleeved white dress
shirt and long black tie. They perform in three to five concerts per year; at
least two are held at the Barbara B. Mann. They also perform at The Bell Tower
and other venues.
Tom Goodlet, Symphony manager for five years, says there have been several
success stories, one of which is David Song, past Concert Master. “He was
offered several scholarships. He’s studying at Stetson University and has
appeared on National Public Radio’s Christopher Riley Show in a live broadcast
featuring outstanding young artists in the country.
“Studying under the adult orchestra has helped tremendously in building the
quality of our growth. Great relationships have developed between members of the
two organizations,” Goodlet says.
The Board of Directors is the same for both organizations.
“The Executive Director of the Symphony oversees all aspects of the Youth
Orchestra including the education committees. But we’re mostly self-contained,”
says Goodlet. “No one interferes with our programming, however they do monitor
us. We’re always trying new marketing ideas. We take every suggestion under
advisement.”
The mission statement of the Southwest Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra
succinctly summarizes the advantages of being a member: The youth program
provides opportunity for individual growth of musically talented youth through
training and performance of the highest quality orchestral literature. It
endeavors to develop pride and self-esteem in young people from all cultural
backgrounds through their individual musical achievement.
The Symphony supports professional classical music by enriching local culture
and providing future musicians for major orchestras.
Just as the students are enlightened by their studies and perseverance, so are
the audiences who enjoy the fruits of their labor of love.
For information about auditioning for the Youth Orchestra or Sinfonietta, call
418-0996.
— Carol DeFrank
*************************
From Pat Nixon
to Miami Murders
by Carol DeFrank
PRUDY TAYLOR BOARD is no novice to writing. She’s an award-winning author, an
editor and a writing coach. Like other writers, her dream is to have her books
sell so well she could just stay home and write all day. And she’s certainly on
her way to fulfilling that dream.
A Florida native, Prudy demonstrates her love for the state through fiction
books that explore local places and attractions and non-fiction books that focus
on Florida history.
Her father, whom she describes as a realist, was a night clerk at the Bradford
Hotel in Fort Myers where she grew up. While supportive of her love of writing,
he remained skeptical about its earning potential and insisted she enroll in a
two year secretarial course after graduating from Fort Myers High School.
The degree came in handy when she and her husband moved to Miami where she
worked as a secretary for several years. Following the birth of her youngest
son, who was born with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), she quit her job to be
a stay-at-home mom and started to freelance. Although she did well, it didn’t
generate enough of an income to support a family, which was necessary after her
divorce.
Returning to Fort Myers, she was hired as a feature writer for the News-Press.
Prudy became ‘infamous’ when First Lady Pat Nixon came to town and the editor
gave the interview assignment to her. The story included a reference to Mrs.
Nixon’s “slightly bowed legs.” A firestorm erupted in the community. “But, then
I showed my editor her photos and he said ‘Prudy, you were charitable.’ He stood
behind me 100%.”
She remained at the News-Press for five years before moving on to become a
reporter for WINK-TV, then an assignment editor for WBBH-TV.
She also worked for the Lee County Sheriff’s Department as media liaison and
took statements from a variety of witnesses for a potpourri of crimes. These
experiences supplied fodder for her mystery novels. “The steady employment
supported my fiction habit,” she said.
Her writing career took off. Bylines appeared in most of the area newspapers and
on the masthead under managing editor of two regional magazines, Lee Living and
Home & Condo.
Prudy credits Stephen King for her success. “He was my mentor. I tore his books
apart, page by page, learning every step of the way. He’s an uneven writer who
understands the fears of our generation: the fear of the unknown, being alone,
and insomnia.” She learned well and created vivid human characters, effortlessly
weaving together plots and sub-plots. Success was within reach.
Her first book, Lee County: A Pictorial History, was published in 1989 and the
rest came easily. “I now understand my own personal psychology. I hate getting
started, and once I start, I hate to finish.” She has started and finished many
times, authoring four novels, ten non-fiction books and more than 1,000
articles.
With all this going on, you would think she could follow her dream and write
full time. “But,” she says, “as a beginner, or even a mid-list author like I am,
you don’t get a lot of money up front, especially for promotion. You have to
expect to spend the advance on your books promoting them. Prepare your strategy
and be ready to send them out to reviewers three to six months before
publication. Creating a snail mail and an e-mail list comes in handy when
sending out promotional material.”
Small book publishers have a distinct advantage over the big houses according to
Prudy. “Major presses promote your book three months before publication and
three months after. That’s it. Small presses will work with you, especially if
they feel you’re really trying.”
She is constantly promoting through speaking engagements. “If you’re nervous
talking to people or groups, get over it.” Employed by CRC Press, she maintains
high visibility by teaching creative writing at workshops around the country.
She is a believer in autographing. “They can’t return a book if it’s personally
autographed.”
This advice, plus much more, can be found in her how-to book, 101 Tips on
Writing & Selling Your First Novel, published in 2003.
Prudy practices what she preaches. She says a writer must know their characters
inside and out. Know the hospital they were born in and what their favorite
snacks are. Be familiar with the places they frequent and the streets and
landmarks they see in their travels.
She followed that advice in each of her four novels: Blood Legacy, The Vow,
Dishonored Grave and her newest book, Murder a la Carte.
Murder is the first in a series. It features Miami broadcaster Clyde Colby and
was published by Arch Books Publishing, “I guess I’ve paid my dues. I submitted
it on a Friday and received a contract on the following Monday. That was nice.”
“Before I sent the book out I followed my own recommendation. I made sure my
book was truly finished. I put it aside for at least a month then went back and
re-read it. I paid special attention to the first page, especially the first
paragraphs. That is the part of the book where editors, agents and publishers
make their decisions.”
Although she shares a lot with her fans, one thing she doesn’t talk about is
age.
She refers to herself as a “tough old broad” who no longer has birthdays, just
events. These events all appear on a long “to-do” list. “Age is just a number. I
must be getting a little older though, because I have noticed I no longer have
senior moments, but senior hours. I guess I’ll worry when I start having senior
days.”
To Prudy the two most beautiful words in the English language aren’t ‘I do,” but
“the end”. •
from the January-February 2005 issue
Prudy became 'infamous' when
First Lady Pat Nixon came to town
and the editor gave the
interview assignment to her.
The story included a reference to
Mrs. Nixon's "slightly bowed legs."