FACULTY Bios
Marjorie Gould Hahn-Executive & Musical Director:
Step Daughter, and private conducting pupil of the late founder Carmen Nappo, now in her 40th 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 for the 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 French horn instructor for Miami Dade College, Kendall for 11 years, and continuing education trumpet instructor, and private studio teacher of both instruments. She performs regularly with the Quintet; Miami’s Top Brass and is the French hornist for the Miami Dade College, Kendall Woodwind Quintet. She is serving a six year term on the Board of the Youth Orchestra Division of the League of American Orchestras.
Dr. Richard E. Yaklich:
Dr. Yaklick 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. He has conducted orchestras throughout the United States and Eastern Europe including the Maikop Philharmonic and the Socchie Symphony Orchesta. Dr.Yaklich attended the Tanglewood Music Center where he studied conducting with such musical notables as Gustav Meier, Charles Dutoit, Leon Fleisher, Maurice Abravanel, and Seiji Ozawa. 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. Richard was a winner of the Walter Charles Conducting Fellowship, Colorado Arts and Humanities Grant, the Allied Arts, Inc. grant, and is listed in Who’s Who among American Colleges and Universities. He has published a book on orchestra repertoire by Edwin Millen Press in 2003; The Struggle for Life in the Middle Ages and the Chaos of the Renaissance published by Author House in 2009, and a text book on Music Form and Analysis was published by Lines Publications in 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 at the University of South Carolina.
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: 5th Season Strings Instructor:
Mr. Turner is a 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 director of the SFYS Elementary Strings training program. Cesar is a board member of Local Musicians Union 655.
Nicolas Repetto: String Orchestra Instructor:
Mr. Repetto is in his 4th season with the SFYS as the Symphonia string orchestra instructor. He is a public elementary school music teacher at the Ruth K. Broad K-8 Center, he is a musical composer and arranger, and served as an assistant conductor of the Alhambra Orchestra in Miami, as well as an active performer on violin in local groups.
Juan Carlos Vera:
Guitar Instructor in his 4th season with the SFYS, Juan is a veteran adjunct guitar instructor for Miami Dade College and has an active private guitar studio; he studied under Bruce Holzman, and is a graduate of Florida International University.
Dr. Pamela Schultz:
Dr. Schultz is in her 5th season with the SFYS for Class Piano. She holds her doctorate in Piano pedagogy and Musical Arts from the University of Miami, was an engraver for Columbia Pictures Music, is an active performer, accompanist, and a chamber musician and teaches in her private studio as well
The joy of music should never be interrupted by a commercial. ~Leonard Bernstein
