Support Advertise Contact Alumni Spotlight Are you a TYO or TSYO alumnus? Connect with us today! Our Recent Alumni Lucas Brown 2nd Year Master's in Violin Performance Depaul University Advice from TYO/TSYO Alumni What years were you in TYO? I was in TYO from 2004 until 2011 when I graduated high school. From 2013 to 2015 I got to come back as a violin coach (which was very surreal)! What groups did you participate in? I started in what was then called Symphonic Strings, then joined the Philharmonia as well as the Tallahassee Fiddlers, followed by Chamber Orchestra, and finally Symphony. What do you do now? Currently, I’m in the second and final year of my Masters degree at DePaul University in Chicago, studying Violin Performance. What is your dream job? There are many things about playing the violin that I love, one of which is teaching. I hope to open up my own private studio after graduation. Aside from teaching, my absolute favorite thing to do is play in the pit for musical theatre shows. I played a lot of shows when I was at Chiles High School, and many more with the FSU Music Theatre department. Ideally, I would love to teach during the day, and play for shows at night! What is your favorite TYO memory? There are a lot of amazing memories to choose from, so this is tough. When I look back over the years, one particular concert sticks out to me, and that is the concert with DBR (Daniel Bernard Roumain). At that time, music making was no longer work. Everyone had such a great time! What did you take away from your time in TYO? How did it help shape your growth as a musician/person? Aside from all of the invaluable musical knowledge I gained from my incredible peers, coaches, and conductors, I would have to say my friends. I made some of the greatest friends of my life in the youth orchestra. Being surrounded by such good influences, both musically and personally, has shaped who I am today. I can honestly say that without the support system I gained in the Tallahassee Youth Orchestras, I wouldn’t be where I am today. TYO was probably something I took for granted while I was in it, but I am well aware now how valuable the program was to my professional and personal life. I will always look back on TYO with extremely fond memories! 2017 Vicky Li Violin Florida State University Honors Program Chemistry Brian Ranner Violin Florida State University Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences Erin Mulrooney Oboe l'Université Concordia in Montréal, Canada Études Françaises Victoria Cea Viola Florida State University Majoring in Nursing minor in Spanish Kennedy Williams Cello Florida Atlantic University Freshman Direct Admit Nursing Program Erica Sandstrum Viola Florida State University Environmental Chemistry Jean-Paul Recht French Horn Florida State University Honors Program Finance Tekla Mendez Violin Florida State University College of Music Music Education Rafel Fortier Percussion Florida State University School of Communications Digital Media Production Lina Ma University of Central Florida Nursing Theodore Waltz Trombone University of Florida Ryan Lambert Bass Tallahassee Community College Lauren Mosley Cello Tallahassee Community College Exercise Science Samantha Crawford Violin Florida State University Double Major in Psychology and Music with a minor in English David LaBarre Violin Valdosta State University Violin performance & Information Technology Cameron Brown Flute Florida A&M Music Education Mia Carter Clarinet Florida State University Biochemistry for the Pre-med track James Spearing Bassoon Tallahassee Community College Maggie Amato Flute Florida State University Music Education Yungi Hwang Violin The University of Michigan LSA honor’s college Neuro Science Michelle Waldman Clarinet University of Florida Bio Chemistry Mackenzie Janes Violin Tallahassee Community College Marine Biology Desiree Robinson Cello Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Aerospace Engineering "Join the orchestra if you're not afraid to step outside your comfortable box a little bit, if you love the idea of working closely with your friends to create something of beauty together, and most importantly, if you're looking for a way to HAVE FUN!" - Ross Holcombe, Principal Trombonist Spokane Symphony Orchestra "Dr. Jimenez was essential to my choice of a career in music. With my experience in chamber ensembles I learned that getting along with others was invaluable at such a young age." - Drew Pattison, Professor of Bassoon DePaul University TYO helped me better understand the nature and importance of discipline as a musician and student. It deepened my emotional connection to classical repertoire in order to bring out the best in my performances, and it awarded me the joy of building something incredible together with large groups of people - bringing such diverse talent, sound, and musicianship into a single, unified piece or movement. - Jordan Rodriguez Director of E-Commerce Product Leadership "Take it seriously. Dr. Jimenez was great. One of my biggest motivators on Sunday at practice was not to waste that man's time. He gave us everything he had, every time we rehearsed, and for me to not be ready to play would have been a huge insult to him. The FSU area has some of the finest musicians in the United States, so don't lose sight of what you're getting when guys like him take the time to rehearse with you.” - Michael Richardson Rifle Platoon Leader in the 82nd Airborne Division Send "Music teaches you how to communicate with others and how to build community among others. The importance of music in my life started during my time in TYO and music has continued to impact my life ever since then." - Lillian Cleveland, Young Adult Volunteer "The best experience of all was studying under the leadership of Mr. Chris Miller, conductor of the Chamber Orchestra. Mr. Miller help to teach me how to truly make music. Instead of just playing the notes that were written on the page, he helped all of us bring the music to life." - Victoria Long, Early Childhood Care and Education Student "Follow your interests to the best of your abilities and always be super nerdy about them. Be okay with your interests changing a few years down the road and then follow those with the same nerdiness and passion! Don't feel like you have to define who you are and what you want to do for the rest of your life at 18." - Kody Glazer, 1st Year Law Student Florida State University Mara Eichin Violin Studying Music Performance and Education at the Univeristy of North Florida. Elise Ashburn Violin Studies with Corinne Stillwell Stephen Barton Flute Studies Flute Performance at Rice University Anna Bridges Cello Studying Biomedical Sciences at FSU Claudia Edwards Violin Music Education at Florida State University, College of Music Matthew Goodson Trumpet Training to become a Firefighter Paramedic at TCC Riley Hirai Trombone Vocal Performance Major at FSU Luke Johnstone Saxophone/Double Bass Attending FSU Dylan Johnson Clarinet Currently attending TCC Mariah Miller Viola Studying English at TCC Joella Mosley Viola Excercise Science Major at FSU Jacob Nelson French Horn Studying Horn Performance at DePaul University Julianne Salancy Violin Psychology Major at Spring Hill College Raiden Thaler Viola Performance Major Florida State University, College of Music Kevin Waldman Trumpet Double Major in Physics and Music Education Delaney Watson Cello Studies Music Education at UNC-Greensboro Kalon Williams Violin Criminal Justice Major at TCC Kayla Williams Viola Viola Performance at Lynn Conservatory of Music CONTACT TYODirector@gmail.com MAILING ADDRESS P. O. Box 21104 Tallahassee, FL 32316-1104 © 2014 by Tallahassee Youth Orchestras. Proudly created with Wix.com