Two More Arts Jobs Saved! And Florida's Singing Sons Boychoir Alumni Heading to Yale
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6/2/2010 10:25:33 AM
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BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – Broward Cultural Division distributed economic recovery funds to 17 arts organizations including Florida’s Singing Sons Boychoir, which directly affected two accompanist’s positions -without whom, the choir cannot rehearse daily. Both Matthew Steynor, accompanist/theory teacher and Daniel Copher, accompanist/music assistant, are critical parts of this 34 year long musical enterprise. The mission of Florida’s Singing Sons Boychoir is to foster musical knowledge, vocal training and artistry in its members through performances and local events, and to provide the community with a source of pride in the talent and professional achievement of its youth.
The boys pursue a consistent set of weekly practices that run from one hour-once a week, to two hours-twice a week, depending on the level. As they mature, they are required to present themselves locally, nationally and internationally as musical ambassadors of Florida’s Singing Songs Boychoir, Broward County and South Florida. The show simply stops without the accompaniment of Steynor and Copher. All this saved, thanks to a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). These two accompanist positions were previously slated for elimination due to financial cut backs.
Most boys moving to the prestigious Concert Choir are afforded the greatest diversity of performance opportunities and musical experiences through training and structure as they develop into young men. This tutelage has set some of them forth to ivy league college educations through music scholarships at institutions such as Yale, Harvard and Notre Dame.
"For more than 30 years, the Florida’s Singing Sons Boychoir has done an outstanding job representing the City of Fort Lauderdale at local, national and international concerts and events,” said Fort Lauderdale Mayor John P. “Jack” Seiler. “Arts programs play a vital role in shaping the character, values and development of our youngsters. Saving two essential jobs through an economic stimulus grant will enable this talented group of singers to continue to bring joy to thousands and spread the spirit of excellence and culture around the world.”
Through the economic stimulus package, Broward County’s Cultural Division received a $250,000 grant, and in turn, re-granted the funds through an ARRA Lifeline application process. These funds were specifically directed to restore jobs in the arts, endorsing the notion that the non-profit arts industry is an important sector of the economy. Arts organizations had the opportunity to apply for funds to provide salary support for an existing staff member who would otherwise have been laid off; or to re-engage artistic/contracted services already let go.
Even before the Obama Administration signed the ARRA into law on February 17, 2009, County staff was immediately mobilized to respond. The Broward Cultural Council as well as the Cultural Division moved quickly to execute these grants and distribute the funds to the cultural organizations. Also, a Broward County Stimulus Grants Coordination Office, www.broward.org/recovery was established for the purpose of centralizing the identification, development, review, approval and tracking for grants and contracts resulting from ARRA. The office is managed by Linda Ross, stimulus grants coordinator with Broward County.
For further information on the list of grantees, or this program, visit the Broward Cultural Division website; or contact Jim Shermer 954-357-7502; e-mail: jshermer@broward.org. |
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