About Us
History Timeline
1958
GMYS was founded by Robert Strassburg. They were known as the All-Miami Youth Symphony, the group was formed to supplement school music programs.
1966
GMYS was officially annexed as part of the University of Miami pre-college music program. The program was led by Dr. Lucas Drew. Conductors at the time included Dr. Frederick Fennell, Dr. Phillip Fink, and many other conductors associated with the University.
1969
The All-Miami Youth Symphony completed a cultural exchange concert tour of Colombia. They gave four performances, conducted by Paul Andre Christianson.
1972
The All-Miami Youth Symphony officially changed its name to the Greater Miami Youth Symphony.
1976
The University of Miami suffered budget constraints, which required a severance of their relationship with GMYS. The parent-run organization decided to incorporate as a separate non-profit entity, raise its own funding, and carry out its mission independently. GMYS continued to recruit talented musicians from around Miami-Dade County, and gradually added more levels of ensembles to train younger musicians.
2005
Dr. Melissa Lesniak was hired as the first Executive Director of GMYS. Under her leadership, GMYS acquired major grant funding and significantly expanded enrollment, helping to keep music alive within our community as many local school music programs faded out of existence.
2007
GMYS completed a cultural exchange trip to Italy. The Symphony Orchestra traveled to Italy and gave various performances there.
2008
Huifang Chen was hired as the conductor for the Symphony Orchestra. Mrs. Chen also serves as the GMYS Artistic Director, has premiered numerous works, and is a world-renowned violinist.
2010
GMYS hosted the first annual Spooky Symphony concert. This is a free Halloween concert where members of the Symphony Orchestra perform side-by-side with members of the Alhambra Orchestra.
2014
they completed a cultural exchange trip to Ireland. Members of the Symphony Orchestra traveled to Ireland and performed with the Dublin Youth Orchestra.
2015
The Symphony Orchestra gave the Butterfly Lovers Concerto concert. This was the South Florida premier of the “Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto,” featuring Mrs. Chen on solo violin.
2017
The Symphony Orchestra performed a concert with Uruguayan conductor Jose Serebrier. GMYS students have also performed with famous artists and at famous events including Nestor Torres, James Galway, Ed Calle, and the Latin Grammy Awards.
2021
Today, the Greater Miami Youth Symphony serves over 600 students from ages 5-18 throughout Miami-Dade County. We offer eight performing ensembles, preparatory classes at 14 locations, and three levels of summer camp.
History Timeline
1958
GMYS was founded by Robert Strassburg. They were known as the All-Miami Youth Symphony, the group was formed to supplement school music programs.
1966
GMYS was officially annexed as part of the University of Miami pre-college music program. The program was led by Dr. Lucas Drew. Conductors at the time included Dr. Frederick Fennell, Dr. Phillip Fink, and many other conductors associated with the University.
1969
The All-Miami Youth Symphony completed a cultural exchange concert tour of Colombia. They gave four performances, conducted by Paul Andre Christianson.
1972
The All-Miami Youth Symphony officially changed its name to the Greater Miami Youth Symphony.
1976
The University of Miami suffered budget constraints, which required a severance of their relationship with GMYS. The parent-run organization decided to incorporate as a separate non-profit entity, raise its own funding, and carry out its mission independently. GMYS continued to recruit talented musicians from around Miami-Dade County, and gradually added more levels of ensembles to train younger musicians.
2005
Dr. Melissa Lesniak was hired as the first Executive Director of GMYS. Under her leadership, GMYS acquired major grant funding and significantly expanded enrollment, helping to keep music alive within our community as many local school music programs faded out of existence.
2007
GMYS completed a cultural exchange trip to Italy. The Symphony Orchestra traveled to Italy and gave various performances there.
2008
Huifang Chen was hired as the conductor for the Symphony Orchestra. Mrs. Chen also serves as the GMYS Artistic Director, has premiered numerous works, and is a world-renowned violinist.
2010
GMYS hosted the first annual Spooky Symphony concert. This is a free Halloween concert where members of the Symphony Orchestra perform side-by-side with members of the Alhambra Orchestra.
2014
they completed a cultural exchange trip to Ireland. Members of the Symphony Orchestra traveled to Ireland and performed with the Dublin Youth Orchestra.
2015
The Symphony Orchestra gave the Butterfly Lovers Concerto concert. This was the South Florida premier of the “Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto,” featuring Mrs. Chen on solo violin.
2017
The Symphony Orchestra performed a concert with Uruguayan conductor Jose Serebrier. GMYS students have also performed with famous artists and at famous events including Nestor Torres, James Galway, Ed Calle, and the Latin Grammy Awards.
2021
Today, the Greater Miami Youth Symphony serves over 600 students from ages 5-18 throughout Miami-Dade County. We offer eight performing ensembles, preparatory classes at 14 locations, and three levels of summer camp.
Our History
Today, the Greater Miami Youth Symphony is an inclusive year-round, multi-tiered music training program consisting of over 600 students ranging in age from 5 to 18. GMYS is served by a full-time Executive Director, Jessica Munch-Dittmar, and Marketing and Operations Coordinator, Michelle Sanchez, as well as other administrative and artistic support, led by Artistic Director, Huifang Chen. GMYS offers beginning music classes on most instruments of the modern orchestra, as well as large ensembles which include 4 orchestras, 2 wind bands, and 2 jazz bands. GMYS also boasts numerous small chamber groups including jazz combos which perform throughout Miami Dade County and a thriving summer camp program in 3 locations.
Our Mission
INSTILL life-long values of discipline, teamwork, responsibility, respect, and cultural appreciation in young musicians, ages five through eighteen, through learning, rehearsing, and performing in a professional, positive environment.
ENRICH the cultural foundation of our community by reaching out to and recruiting young musicians from different cultural, ethnic and economic backgrounds.
INSPIRE young people through teaching, rehearsals, and performances to function together as first rate orchestras, and ensembles that bring the communities together in outstanding music performances.