The San Luis Obispo Symphony has received a $10,000 grant from The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County (CFSLOCO). This grant will be used to add another music education program to the existing five programs, including the Youth Symphony orchestra, for the 2016-17 season. Cadet Winds, an ensemble for beginning wind players, will be taught by Miriam Grisso.
“We are very grateful to the Community Foundation for their generous grant,” says Mi Young Shin, music education director. “The funds received will allow us to add Cadet Winds to the already thriving ensembles of the Youth Symphony.” Including the addition of this beginning winds ensemble, the Youth Symphony education programs are expecting a growth in enrollment for the 2016-2017 academic year. This will result in about 250 students/young musicians participating throughout San Luis Obispo County.
Miriam Grisso, the current conductor of the Symphonic Winds ensemble, is eager to offer Cadet Winds to wind and brass players who have one or more years of band or private lesson experience. These young musicians will now be able cultivate their love of music and have opportunities to grow into the more advanced ensembles, Symphonic Winds and Concert Orchestra. For many young students, Cadet Winds will be their first experience playing in an ensemble and, for others; it will be an opportunity to further grow the musicianship skills they are developing in school bands.
The San Luis Obispo Symphony was chosen to receive this grant and is among 30 recipients, whose grants total $228,800.
This year’s grant making program is made possible through the generous support of the Foundation’s Community Endowment and many donor funds held at the Foundation. In only 18 years, the CFSLOCO has given out more than $28 million in grants to assist non-profit agencies. For more information on the CFSLOCO or any funds, call (805) 543-2323 or visit www.cfsloco.org.