Written by: Christian P. Benotto
An Unforgettable Night
On August 31st, I had the pleasure of speaking at one of the Miami Youth Orchestra's events. The occasion of that night’s event was a concert with the legendary María Teresa Chacín, a Venezuelan singer who has spent many years in the music industry and who has published many albums that have endured as a statement of Venezuelan culture throughout time. This is not the first time they play with her, and it is not the first time that the music of the orchestra serves as a promoter of culture.
The Miami Youth Orchestra is an orchestra that is open and accepting. They allow anyone who has an instrument and some musical knowledge to join for free in order to participate with them. Not only that, but it is an orchestra that is constantly attempting to make music and culture as available as possible, and more so in those communities that lack them. They are based in Miami, specifically Doral, and they look to make each and every single event an unforgettable one. On that night on which I had the pleasure to serve as a speaker, the room was filled with joy, filled with magic, and tears of joy. Everyone in that room was moved to the core of their being.
This concert was held at the Doral Cultural Arts Center. It was not our first time performing here, and it will not be the last, for there are many more concerts to come, and all of you are invited! Some of them will have extra members, hopefully, and some of them will even have you as their members.
Our Beginnings
This is an orchestra that spans more than 20 years since its foundation. It was founded in 2004 by Maria A. Salas, who is the orchestra’s director. She founded this orchestra which has served as a pillar of culture and music in Doral and Miami. They have played at theaters, cultural centers, diverse auditoriums, and schools, among many other places. What all of these places and these performances have in common is that their mission and objective of sharing the arts with the world has stayed the same, and that if anything, it has gained strength.
This orchestra holds a rich and extensive history, a repertoire that is unique, and an ability to play that which stirs the hearts of the people, exhibiting its unique gift of bringing culture and musicality wherever they play.
We will play again on November 21st at Central Park Doral and on December 6th at Miami International Mall. We invite you, reader, to come see us and be part of this beautiful and inevitable journey of music, culture, and learning. We invite you to be part of this — to even play with us. We thank you endlessly for your support, and we hope to see you soon.