Staff of the South Florida Youth Symphony
Marjorie Gould Hahn-Executive & Musical Director, daughter of founder Carmen Nappo, 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, touring and ensemble development. Marjorie became the Executive Director 10 years ago , and holds the podium forthe youth symphony. She has secured and appointed the finest musical staff, who are dedicated to the personal development of our communities young talent. She is an active teacher and performer, serving as adjunct horn instructor for Miami Dade College, Kendall for 11 years, continuing education trumpet instructor, and private studio teacher of both instruments. She performs regularly with her Quintet, Miami’s Top Brass and is the hornist for the Miami Dade College, Kendall Woodwind Quintet. She is serving a new six year term on the Board of the Youth Orchestra Division of the League of American Orchestras.
Dr. Richard E. Yaklich, currently serves as an Associate Professor of Music at Florida Memorial University, and Director of Campus Assessment; Conductor for the South Florida Youth Symphony and the former Director of the Jubilate Chamber Orchestra. Prior to coming to Florida Memorial University, he served as a String Orchestra Consultant for the Brevard County School District in Titusville, Florida, and was the Director of Orchestra Activities at South Miami Middle School for the Performing Arts. He has conducted orchestras through out the United States and Eastern Europe including the Maikop Philharmonic and the Socchie Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Yaklich has conducted the Alhambra Orchestra of Miami, FL on several occasions, served as the Assistant Conductor of the Kingsport Tennessee Symphony Orchestra and Choir; Music Director of the Kingsport Youth Orchestra and as the Artistic Director and Conductor of the University of Southern Colorado Chamber Orchestra. Dr. Yaklich attended the Tanglewood Music Center where studied conducting with such musical notables as Gustav Meier, Charles Dutoit, Leon Fleisher, Maurice Abravanel, and Seiji Ozawa. While studying at the Conductor’s Institute in 1993, he performed with Donald Portnoy, Samuel Jones, Larry Newland, and Paul Vermal.
In addition to his conducting activities, he is an active cellist and composer and has had works performed by the Colorado Symphony and the Filharmonica de Stat Satu Mare in Romania. His composition, “Theme and Variations for Orchestra” was performed by the South Florida Youth Orchestra in January of 2003, and “In Memorium” was given its world primer at the University of Miami in 2007. A winner of the Walter Charles Conducting Fellowship, Colorado Arts and Humanities Grant and the Allied Arts, Inc. grant, he has also been listed in “Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities.” A member of the Gustav Mahler Society, American Symphony Orchestra League and the Conductor’s Guild, he has published a book on orchestra repertoire which was published by Edwin Mellen Press in 2003 (www.mellenpublications.com), “The Struggle for Life in the Middle Ages and the Chaos of the Rennasiance was published by AuthorHouse (www.authorhouse.com) in 2009. A text book on Music Form and Analysis is in preparation for Linus Publications for 2010. Dr. Yaklich received his bachelor’s degree in 1989 from the University of Southern Colorado; his Master’s degree in music from Colorado State University and his Doctorate in 1996 the University of South Carolina.
Mr. Lee Frey- 6th season as Percussion coach. Lee is a 12 year veteran orchestra and band teacher at South Dade Sr. High school, concentrates on Computer science and is teaching in the Dade County Public Schools. Lee is a professional percussionist.
Dr. Dennis Kam -Composer In Residence- Dr. Kam is the Chair of the Theory and Composition Department of the University of Miami School of Music. He is the “Composer In Residence”, with the SFYS, after serving as a consultant for 8 years and Assistant Conductor for one season In 1970-72 Dr. Kam was Composer In Residence for Honolulu and the State of Hawaii through the Ford Foundation/ MENC Contemporary Music Project.
Cesáre Turner – 4th Season Strings Instructor is an SFYS Alumnus , a graduate of Florida Memorial University and a teacher in the Dade and Broward County Schools System. He performs on Trumpet and Viola , is frequently called for acting and modeling spots, and is the new director of the SFYS Elementary “Consort” Orchestra..
Linda Shapanka: String Consort Director, local free lance violin and viola teacher and performer, has been a teacher for the SFYS for 10 years
Nicolas Repetto –3rd season with the SFYS and new Symphonia string orchestra instructor, public elementary school music teacher at Ruth K Broad K-8 Center, composer and was an assistant conductor of the Alhambra Orchestra in Miami
Juan Carlos Vera, Guitar Instructor in his 2nd year with the SFYS. Juan is a veteran adjunct guitar instructor for Miami Dade College and has a private guitar studio, he studied under Bruce Holzman, and is a graduate of Florida International University.
Pamela Schultz– 4th season with the SFYS for Class Piano, holds her masters in Piano pedagogy, from the University of Miami, and teaches in private studio as well