ORLANDO, FL - Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras (FSYO) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Kenneth Boyd as the new Jazz Director and Conductor of the Alphonse Carlo Jazz Band. FSYO is thankful for the work and years of experience Mr. Richard Drexler has provided and brought to the jazz program during his tenure at FSYO, and the students will miss hearing his stories about his adventures as a jazz musician. Drexler remains a friend to the organization as the rhythm students will still have the opportunity to work with him during Sectionals.
Kenneth Boyd, who has been an integral part of FSYO’s community, has consistently demonstrated exceptional skills, leadership, and dedication to FSYO's mission to educate youth. Previously, he has been on the Artistic Staff of FSYO as the conductor of the Joseph Wise Jazz Band since the 62nd Season when the jazz program expanded to include two jazz bands. Boyd is currently the Director of Bands at West Orange High School, and he has received the National Band Association's Outstanding Jazz Educator Award as well as two Citations of Excellence for outstanding contribution to bands and band music.
"Ken Boyd is a consummate scholar and educator with years of sage experience directing jazz bands. FSYO is lucky to have him leading the [jazz] program."
-Jeff Rupert, Founder of the FSYO Jazz Program
In addition to Boyd’s transition, FSYO is delighted to welcome Mr. Marc Kolodinsky as the newest member of the Artistic Staff as he will take over as the Conductor of the Joseph Wise Jazz Band. With a strong background in jazz and music education, Kolodinsky brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to FSYO. Kolodinsky holds the Director of Bands position at Windermere High School, and he specializes in teaching the saxophone and clarinet as well as leading sectionals. With Kolodinsky’s proven track record of success, FSYO believes he is an excellent fit to work with aspiring jazz students.
Be sure to see these bands in action at the 67th Season Jazz Opener Concert on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at the Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts. FSYO knows the collaboration between Boyd and Kolodinsky will further strengthen FSYO's ability to provide Central Florida students a world-class music education and foster the growth of young Central Florida jazz musicians.
ABOUT KENNETH BOYD: Kenneth Boyd is the current Director of Bands at West Orange High School. In his 25 year career, he has also served as Director of Bands at Olympia High School and Memorial Middle School as well as Associate Director of Bands at University High School. Mr. Boyd graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1998. At West Orange, Mr. Boyd directs the band and orchestra programs and serves as chair of the Performing Arts Department. Bands and Orchestras under Mr. Boyd's direction consistently earn superior ratings at all levels of evaluation. In addition, ensembles under Mr. Boyd's direction have performed at the Stetson Invitational, the Midwest Clinic, the CBDNA/NBA Southern Division Conference, and the President's Concert in conjunction with the annual FMEA Music Education Conference. In 2017 the West Orange Band Program earned the Blue Ribbon Program of Excellence Award, given by the National Band Association. West Orange was one of only three high schools nationwide to receive the award that year.
Mr. Boyd was named the 2017-2018 Teacher of the Year for West Orange High School and a finalist for Orange County Teacher of the Year. In addition, he is a two-time recipient of the Kessler Grand Bohemian Scholarship Award for excellence in fine arts teaching. He has also received the National Band Association's Outstanding Jazz Educator Award and two Citations of Excellence for outstanding contribution to bands and band music. Mr. Boyd has served as a clinician for several all-county bands, both concert and jazz. He has also enjoyed the opportunity to work at numerous colleges as a clinician for summer camps and honor bands, including Florida State University, the University of North Florida, the University of Central Florida, Florida Southern College, and Austin Peay University. Mr. Boyd is an active member of the National Band Association, the Florida Bandmasters Association, and the Florida Music Education Association.
In addition to his music education activities, Mr. Boyd performs on Trumpet with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and the Southern Winds Concert Band. Mr. Boyd has been married to his lovely wife, Jennifer, for the past seventeen years. Together, they have three beautiful children: Garrett, Emma, and Tyler.
ABOUT MARC KOLODINSKY: Marc Kolodinsky, better known as Mr. K, is a passionate high school band director and private lessons instructor. After previously teaching in Seminole, Flagler, and Volusia counties, Mr. K is entering his 18th year of teaching as the newly appointed Band Director at Windermere High School in Orange County. Mr. K has held a private lesson studio of clarinet and saxophones students that range from middle school to college age. In addition, he regularly performs with a professional saxophone quartet, the Orlando Saxophone Project.
Mr. K is thrilled to be joining the FSYO organization and looks forward to conducting and working with the talented students in the Joseph Wise Jazz Band.
ABOUT FSYO: Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras empowers young musicians to achieve excellence and inspire their communities through a shared love of music. In its 67th Concert Season, FSYO serves over 280 students and comprises seven ensembles - three symphony orchestras, one string-training orchestra, two jazz bands, and a percussion ensemble - as well as Stringmania Summer Camp.
FSYO programs are carefully structured to encourage student growth with FSYO throughout their primary and secondary years. Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras’ full range of ensembles gives each student a place to excel with peers at a similar level and an opportunity to collaborate with seasoned music professionals on local, national, and international levels. During summers, the Tour Orchestra and Tour Jazz Band students participate in life-changing experiences of organized tours, alternating between international and national travel.
Programs are sponsored in part by Orlando Utilities Commission - The Reliable One; the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts; United Arts of Central Florida, home of OrlandoAtPlay.com and UAArtsEd.com; and the Kiwanis Club of Orlando Foundation. FSYO thanks these groups for their generous support.
For more information, please visit www.fsyo.org | facebook.com/THEFSYO | @f_s_y_o (instagram) | youtube.com/fsyo
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