Mr. Stephen Schenck — is an elected Councilman for the City of Oviedo since 2007. He is the president of Spinnaker Technology, Inc., specializing in software and systems including digital imaging acquisition, banking/database, and networking applications and solutions. He is a founding board member for the Galileo School for Gifted Learning, a charter school in Seminole County boasting some of the highest school FCAT scores in the County. He is the Vice President for the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra, one of the nation's notable youth orchestras, serving the Central Florida region since 1957. He has been a part of the Adjunct Faculty at Seminole State College, teaching Computer and Information Systems applications from 2000 - 2011. He has previously worked as Director of Information Systems for NASCAR, and in management roles for Premier Cruise Lines and Olympia & York USA. He has two gifted children in the Seminole Public School system. He has been the Vice President of Special Education PTA of Seminole County as well as a member of the Gifted Advisory and Acceleration Committees for Seminole County Public Schools. He is a a founding member of The Oviedo Preservation Project. Mr. Schenck has been married for 21 years and has two children, one in middle school and another in High school.
Stephen is among the 12 returning FSYO board members. FSYO also welcomed four new board members for the upcoming 2014-2015 season. They are:
- Joyce Yang, AVT Simulation, Senior Software Engineer, Parent of FSYO Member
- Jane Shugart, Occupational Therapist, Parent of FSYO Member
- John McCann, Raymond James Financial Services Inc., Financial Advisor, FSYO Alumni
- Edward Thomas, OUC, Manager, Finance and Contracts, Parent of FSYO Member
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Central Florida Foundation Awards Funding to the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra for New Instruments
ORLANDO, Fla. — The Central Florida Foundation recently awarded the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra $7,200 in grant funding to purchase violins for low-income youth and provide resources for associated maintenance.
"We are extremely appreciative of the Central Florida Foundation and their support," said Heide Evans Waldron, FSYO Executive Director. "This grant will allow the FSYO to assist students that may not otherwise have the means or opportunity to participate in music programs."
In addition to purchasing the violins, including bows and cases, the funds will be used to buy Etude violin outfits with shoulder rests and support programmatic needs for instrument care.
This project was funded by the Central Florida Foundation's Community Investment funds.
"Our Community Investment funds are targeted at increasing the capacity of nonprofit organizations," said Michelle Chapin, Vice President of Community Investment. "We are happy to partner with FSYO to support the expansion of its services to low-income youth."
About Central Florida Foundation: The Central Florida Foundation is a public grant-making foundation headquartered in Orlando, Florida, that serves as a trusted philanthropic home for more than 400 charitable funds established by generous individuals, families and corporations. The Foundation manages and invests funds, offers personalized service and expert giving advice, connects donors with charitable organizations that they feel passionate about, and empowers them to make informed decisions that make a difference in the community. The Foundation works with individuals, families, businesses, professional advisors and nonprofits. For more information on the Foundation, please visit www.cffound.org.
About FSYO: The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra aims to educate and inspire Central Florida's top young musicians through programs committed to strengthening musical talents and developing appreciation of the arts through classical music. The FSYO, in its 57th concert season, comprises three full orchestras, one string training orchestra and various chamber groups, made up of more than 250 students from eight Central Florida counties, including Orange, Osceola, Lee, Seminole, Brevard, Lake, Highlands and Volusia. Programs are sponsored in part by the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs; the Florida Council on Arts and Culture; Darden Restaurant Foundation; Universal Orlando Foundation; Central Florida Foundation and United Arts of Central Florida. We thank these groups for their generous support. The FSYO is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. For more information, please visit our website at www.fsyo.org.
We are excited to announce that Dr. Mauricio Cespedes Rivero will take over for Matthew Davis as the Prelude Orchestra Conductor for our upcoming 2014-2015 season.
For more information on Dr. Cespedes please read his bio:
Dr. Mauricio Cespedes Rivero was born in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and started the violin and later the viola with his father Fredy Cespedes, concertmaster of the Bolivian Symphony Orchestra, and his mother Maria Eugenia Rivero, principal cellist of the Bolivian Symphony Orchestra. An active performer, Dr. Cespedes has served as principal violist of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra since 2008. Previously, he was principal viola of the Bolivian National Symphony Orchestra, New World School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra, Miami Symphony Orchestra, Florida State University Orchestra, Lansing Symphony, and Ash Lawn Opera Festival Orchestra in Charlottesville, Virginia. He also was assistant principal violist of the Sinfonicum Europae Orchestra in the Millennium Concert at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center with principals of the New York Philharmonic. In 2011, he won the You Tube Symphony Orchestra competition and performed at the Sydney Opera House with Maestro Michael Tilson Thomas. He has collaborated with composers such as Mason Bates, Stella Sung, Ellen Tafte Zwilich (Naxos Recording), and John Williams.
As a chamber musician, Dr. Cespedes has performed in Europe, Asia, Australia, South and North America. He has been featured at the Aspen, Mimir, and Sewanee music festivals, and at the Michigan Chamber Music Society. Dr. Cespedes has collaborated with notable artists such as Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell, Charles Pikler, Glenn Dicterow, Cynthia Phelps, Suren Bagratuni, Randolph Kelly, Jonathan Crow, Robert DeMaine, Seunghee Lee, Susana Perry Gilmore, Anton Neil, Roger Benedict, Colin Jacobsen, Stefan Jackiw, Zoya Leybin, and Richard Tognetti.
Dr. Cespedes has been a winner of the 2002 New World School of the Arts Concerto Competition, Ibero American Symphony Competition, and Aspen Music Festival fellowship, and participated in the 2005 Osaka International Chamber Music Competition, sponsored by the Japan Chamber Music Foundation.
As a viola soloist, he has appeared with the New World School of the Arts Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Maitland Symphony, Bolivian National Symphony Orchestra, La Paz Symphony Orchestra, COFES International Festival Orchestra in Bolivia, Festival del Sol Symphony Orchestra, Camerata Concertante of Cochabamba, National Conservatory of Bolivia Symphony Orchestra and El Alto Symphony Orchestra.
Dr. Cespedes is the principal conductor of the New Score Chamber Orchestra, and conductor of the Chamber Orchestra at a Gift for Music. As a viola teacher and sectional conductor, he served as faculty of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan for six years and led master classes at Sam Houston State University, Wyoming State University, and New World School of the Arts.
He holds degrees from New World School of the Arts, Michigan State University, and Florida State University where he obtained his Doctorate degree.
Besides music, Mauricio holds a degree in Environmental Engineering with an emphasis in Management of Protected Areas in Bolivia. Mauricio has two younger sisters, Adriana who plays Bass, and Wara who plays violin. He is happily married to his wife, Emily, who plays violin and accompanies him on piano. Together they just welcomed the newest addition to their family, a son named Michael.
For Immediate Release
March 6, 2014
FSYO Presents StringMania Summer Camp 2014
ORLANDO, Fla. – With the summer of the 57th concert season fast approaching, The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra is calling young, high spirited musicians to join StringMania! StringMania is an annual, two-week, summer day camp meant to enrich, inspire and educate young string players, ages 7 to 15. Camp enrollment is open to FSYO members and non-FSYO members alike. There are no auditions for this program; however, students are expected to be playing at a Suzuki book level 2 or higher. Students will participate in diverse musical activities designed to challenge and enhance their talents in both orchestral and chamber ensembles. Fun team-building activities such as chamber group coaching, culture based dance exercises, and fiddling and improvisation workshops will also be incorporated. Previous StringMania programs included an introduction to stage crafting and a performance field trip to the downtown Orange County Public Library. There will be a celebratory closing concert to complete the program. To obtain more information and apply, please visit www.fsyo.org. Applications are due no later than June 20, 2014.
Camp Dates: StringMania takes place Monday through Friday for two weeks, starting July 14, 2014 and concluding on July 25, 2014. StringMania will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily for full-days and 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for half-days.
Camp Location: StringMania meets daily at the College Park Baptist Church, 1914 Edgewater Drive, Orlando, FL 32804.
Camp Tuition: Tuition is $400 for the two-week program. Half-day camp programs are available for two weeks for $300. A non-refundable tuition deposit of $100 must accompany this application. Checks made payable to FSYO. The remainder of the total tuition is due on or before the first day of camp. As always, in line with FSYO's commitment to the community, no student will be turned away from this program due to lack of funds; scholarships are available for those who qualify.
About FSYO: The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra aims to educate and inspire Central Florida's top young musicians via programs committed to strengthening musical talents and developing appreciation of the arts through classical music. The FSYO, in its 57th Concert Season, comprises three full orchestras, one string training orchestra and various chamber groups, made up of more than 250 students from eight Central Florida counties, including Orange, Osceola, Lee, Seminole, Brevard, Lake, Highlands and Volusia. Programs are sponsored in part by the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs; the Florida Council on Arts and Culture; Darden Restaurant Foundation; Universal Orlando Foundation; and United Arts of Central Florida. We thank these groups for their generous support. The FSYO is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. For more information, please visit www.fsyo.org.
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