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Newsletter DECEMBER 2019
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FOUNDATION TO ASSIST YOUNG MUSICIANS
“Building Better Futures Through Music”
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DECEMBER 2019 Newsletter

DECEMBER 2019

 

 



 

 


In This  Issue:

Amazing Contribution

FAYM Students Perform for Stella Mason Parson Excellence in Education Awards Brunch


Winter Concert

Chocolate Sales

Remembering an Amazing Woman








Amazing Contribution

40 Violins that were part of a youth music program at the Boy's and Girl's Clubs of S. Nevada several years ago & sponsored by the Las Vegas Philharmonic, have been presented to FAYM for use in our "Violins for Kids" program. The violins were purchased via a grant from the Rogers Foundation and will be a welcomed asset for expanding our "V4K" program!  (Click here) more information.
 

The lady standing to the right of Tim Thomas, FAYM Program Coordinator, is Jaime Weller-Lafavor,
CEO of Boy's & Girl's Clubs of Southern Nevada.



 


 

 
 FAYM Students Perform for Stella Mason Parson Excellence in Education Awards Brunch
 
November 16, 2019
 
Stella Parson was the first black woman to get a bachelor’s degree from University of Reno many years ago.  Ms. Parson took her degree and went to work teaching in the Clark County School District.  It was my privilege to get to know Ms. Parson as my own daughter was a student in Ms. Parson’s 3rd grade class approximately 40 years ago. Ms. Parson is now deceased but her family and friends has established a scholarship to honor this great teacher’s work in educating our children. It is their goal to gather enough monies to offer a full-ride scholarship to an African-American female student here in Nevada.   On November 16, 2019 our FAYM students were invited to perform some music during their Excellence in Education Awards/scholarship fundraising event.
 
Mr. Thomas arranged for several of our advanced musicians to perform and I of course was in the audience along with my daughter Jessica, Ms. Parson’s former student.  Our FAYM students were awesome!  They performed Abendsegen, David and Michael, Celtic Dance, and Finale from First Symphony.  It was very exciting for me to see and hear our students perform.  Mr. Thomas and I were very proud of their beautiful performance!
 
I got to meet and talk to the daughters and grandchildren of Ms. Parson many of which are also educators.  Stella Parson left a wonderful legacy to the children of Nevada and I was very happy that our FAYM students performed in an event that payed tribute to a phenomenal educator!
 
Arturo Ochoa

 
Please join THE FAMILY OF FAYM today
by donating online (click HERE) 


 
 


 



 
 


 


Chocolate Sales
 
Dear Readers,
 
Again, we are here to bring you the latest events and news of what happened this month in FAYM. We are happy to let you know that the sale of chocolates that took place between the months of September and October of this year 2019, was successful as it was in other years.

The sale was arduous and intense, and in the end it was possible to sell a high number of boxes of chocolates thanks to the united effort of all the parents, who with love and much desire managed to help the sale of chocolates, bringing a total sum up to this moment; ($3,516.00) in sales. This collection of funds allows us to pay the value of the chocolates and be left with a profit which will be used, as always, for the advancement of the music program and other needs related to it. Again we want to thank our precious parents for their efforts to such a noble cause; as well as our much-loved Mrs. Claudia Rivera, FAYM Board President, for her very important work with this project; as well as others who came together to collaborate with the foundation.
 
Nelson Baires, Parent

 
 

 

Remembering an Amazing Woman
 
On October 26, 2019 I sat in the back of the Chapel at Davis Mortuary.  I was attending funeral services for Patrice Elaine Fields, Vice President of The Society Inc.  The Society is a group of women that supports the fine arts in Las Vegas and over the past three years they have collaborated with FAYM in support of our music program.  Patrice was a strong supporter for funding Golden Violins for our deserving students and they recently voted on and approved to fund a Golden Violin for one of our FAYM students.  
 
When I was asked if FAYM could bring two Golden Violin recipients to play for Patrice’s services I asked Gema Aguirre and Sabdy Cardon, both of them recipients of a Golden Violin, if they could play for the services and they immediately agreed.  Let me share with you my thoughts and observations as I sat in the back of the Chapel at Davis Mortuary.  
 
Sabdy and Gema and walked to the front of the chapel and quickly set up a music stand.  No words were spoken between them yet they started playing as if they were communicating with their thoughts.  They started playing Cannon in D by Johann Pachelbel.  I have heard this beautiful piece of music several times but never have I heard or seen it performed so well!  
 
They started playing the melody together then one continued with the melody while the other played harmony.  Then they played melody together then switch and the other would play harmony while the other played melody.  Their transitions were perfect!   I found out later that they had not practiced this piece together yet they appeared to be well rehearsed.  I do believe that their minds were definitely communicating with each other as they played flawlessly!  They included vibrato throughout the piece and based on their posture, position, and performance this music was coming directly from their soul!
 
I sat in the back of the chapel observing these two young ladies remembering when they started with FAYM 7 years ago.  They were both in 3rd grade and had never held a violin in their hands yet they started and embraced the music with love and passion.  Over the years they learned and improved at a fast pace and in the past two years they both earned their Golden Violin!  I just sat there feeling pride and joy knowing that because of FAYM, these two young ladies were truly exceptional as they performed this difficult piece of music.  If FAYM had not been there for them when they were in 3rd grade they would not have had the opportunity to learn how to play the violin until they started 6th grade in the Clark County School District.  I have spoken to the girls about this and they are both grateful that FAYM was there to give them the opportunity to learn at a young age!  Both of their mothers are very involved in helping FAYM and are truly exceptional mothers!
 
As a Co-Founder of The Violins for Kids Program, Board Member, and Past President of FAYM, I am very proud to be a part of this organization and am looking forward to making a difference in the lives of our children!  Bravo Gema and Sabdy!!
 
Arturo Ochoa



 
Please join THE FAMILY OF FAYM today by donating online (click HERE) 


 
 
Please join the Family of FAYM
You can donate directly online (click HERE) OR by mailing your check to:
FAYM:  PO Box 1993; Las Vegas, NV 89125-1993.
Share your love of music with a deserving youngster.  You'll be glad you did!
(All Contributions are Tax Deductible.)

 



 

 

You can support FAYM students at our website.
FAYM keeps our costs low by relying on highly qualified volunteers to handle our administrative tasks.
You can be sure that your donation will go directly to scholarship assistance,
program support, and student lessons.


 
 

 

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