About FAYM
Get to know the story, the people, and the history of FAYM !
FAYM
Mission Statement
FAYM is threefold:
1) To encourage and support young musicians in early training,
2) Advanced study,
3) Professional career development, specifically those who are in need of financial and/or mentoring support up to the age of 26, and to develop innovative programs for children in low income communities to receive musical instruction and opportunity.
Team
Committed to Education
Board Members
David Held Chairman
Mary L. Howard Vice President
Debi Bonds Secretary
Mitch Terry Treasurer
Arturo Ochoa Past President
Elliot Gorlin Board Member
Lisbeth Arciniega Board Member
Sandra Pelaez Board Member
Bill Thornhill Board Member
Hal Weller Founder/Trustee
EMERITUS BOARD MEMBERS
Claudia Rivera Juan Soto Richard McGee
HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS
Jamie Bernstein Hilary Hahn De Ann Letourneau Valentina Lisitsa Alexander Prior
IN MEMORIAM
Gloria Gorlin Dennis Ortwein
Christopher Bonds Gary Karr
FAYM HistoryViolins For Kids
โIn the fall of 2009 retired symphony conductor, Hal Weller, and retired inner-city school principal, Arturo Ochoa, saw the need and launched the “Violins for Kids” project to offer music instruction to youngsters in underserved neighborhoods in Las Vegas. The program has grown from 15 to 285 students from 51 elementary schools currently enrolled in three community center locations.
As an affiliate of the worldwide El Sistema movement, FAYM’s “Violins for Kids” project, provides youngsters with instruments, materials, two to four sessions a week, a free Summer Institute, and special musical field trips for a suggested donation of just $25 per month per student. Parents are urged to attend lessons with their child which forms a strong common family bond.
The year-long program is coordinated by Timothy Thomas and a staff of teachers consisting of Candace Chun, Faride Acosta, Alex Dzyubinsky, Marla Huizar, Tony Rodriguez, Won Na, Nataliya Karachentseva, Susan Rasmussen, Kimberly Cortez, & Yvette Sital. Renowned Luthier, Juan Soto, volunteers his expertise to keep all of FAYM’s string instruments in top condition and retired school principal & “Violins for Kids” co-founder, Arturo Ochoa, who serves as Past President of FAYM's Board.
The “Violins for Kids” project has won recognition from the Clark County School District’s Partnership Program, the Clark County Board of Supervisors, and such celebrities as singer Josh Groban, the late world-famous solo bassist Gary Karr, Teller (of Penn & Teller), and Jamie Bernstein, daughter of renowned conductor/composer Leonard Bernstein.