45 consecutive seasons serving Miami-Dade and Broward counties developing talented youths ages 5 to 21 in classical music, for a liftime of benefits
Meet the Executive Director:
Marjorie Gould Hahn, Musical/ Executive Director
Now in her 38th year as conductor and teacher of the South Florida Youth Symphony organization, Marjorie has guided the organization to a superb level of programming, teaching and ensemble development. She began with the group when she was a student of 15 when her late step-father Maestro Carmen Nappo began the symphony in North Miami.
Assuming the Executive leadership roll 6 years ago, she has secured and appointed the finest musical staff in Dade and Broward counties who are dedicated to the personal development of our communities young talent, from every walk of the community.
The youth symphony has now expanded from a one orchestra program to a three orchestra program with four levels of string training classes and a yearly summer camp for young musicians, all ages 5 - 21.
She has also served as local choir and instrumental director for area churches for seven years, and remains one of the areas top teachers of French Horn and Trumpet at Miami Dade College, Kendall, in private studio and as consultant to local schools. Mrs. Hahn served for six years as a member, and guest speaker for the National Youth Orchestra Board of the American Symphony Orchestra League; served on the Board of the Coalition for Quality Education with late Howard Doolin , arts advocate and public school music superintendent for many years, & as well worked with the Very Special Arts Program of Florida, presenting "Musical Petting Zoos, and programs for festivals since 1980"
Serving as the adjunct instructor for the Barry University Early credit program for the Orchestral ensemble, and the Miami Dade College North Campus Dual Enrollment program for Orchestra, she has also served as instructor for the Miami Dade College Kendall Campus in Woodwind ensemble performance and faculty leader in the student MENC Program. SHe is currently serving her 12th season as French Horn Instructor, and continuing education trumpet instructor for the kendall campus.
Marjorie remains highly active as a professional performer and Business Manager in the Brass Quintet.."Miami's Top Brass”, a group that has been performing for south Florida audiences since 1990, she holds memberships in the Florida Bandmasters Association, The Florida Orchestra Association, the National Horn Society, the MENC, the National Association of College Wind and Percussion teachers and the Musicians Union Local 655. She is listed in the 10th edition of “ Who's Who in Music International”. Marjorie has often served as an adjudicator for local festivals, has been speaker at National Conventions for the American Symphony Orchestra League and the Music Educators National Conference, and has been a guest conductor for local orchestras.
Marjorie was administrator for 4 Bahamas Cruise Festivals where the youth symphony won Top trophies including the National Orchestra Trophy, she has administered the State of Florida college master class tours, The Music Educators Conference “New Music” concert in Tampa Florida, The Washington DC Music Festivals Adjudicationconcert and tour winning once again the first place national orchestra trophy, and the Vienna, Austria 30th International Youth And Music Festival trip where the SFYS also was invited to perform a side-by-side concert with the Pizzicato Marchfeld youth orchestra of Vienna Austria.
In 1988 and 1992 Marjorie conducted the South Florida Youth Symphony in Carnegie Hall, New York.
She pursued the call of Ramon Rodriguez of the Camerata Bach in Managua Nicaragua in 2004 to help him develop support and following for his youth orchestra program in Nicaragua, and further implemented an International Cultural Exchange program to facilitate the SFYS touring to Managua, Lyon, Masatepe, Granada and outer lying towns of Nicaragua, in May of 2006,where 63 musicians and support personnel presented four major concerts and performed for the President, first lady and US Ambassadors. Marjorie sponsored a subsequent concert in Miami with the aid of the local Nicaraguan and corporate community for the support of a Nicaraguan FABRETTO children’s foundation in December of 2006.
Mrs Hahn is a proud Alumna of Miami Dade Community College with her AA Degree in 1969, following up her training in Music Ed at the University of Georgia., 1972. She is the Hornist for the current Miami Dade College Faculty Woodwind Quintet.
Mrs Hahn has secured a talented and caring staff of teachers and mentors to assist students in achieving their dreams in music. Over the years the SFYS alumni have become teachers, professional performers, producers, college directors, arts advocates and district music supervisors. The legacy that her step father, the late founding maestro Carmen Nappo gave her, is still proving to be a beacon for music instruction and life skills development for youth in South Florida