It was a moment of elegance as members of the Gifford Youth Orchestra’s Youth String Ensemble skillfully played a lilting rendition of Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” in front of a rapt audience at the Gifford Youth Orchestra’s 20th Anniversary Gala, held at the Quail Valley River Club.
Former NASA Astronaut Winston Scott PHOTO PROVIDED BY WINSTON SCOTT
The evening fundraiser, dubbed the “Diamonds & Crystals Gala,” featured retired U.S. Navy Capt. Winston Scott as the keynote speaker. A former NASA astronaut, Scott flew two missions aboard the space shuttle, logging 24 days in space as a mission specialist. He also plays a mean trumpet.
His message: Invest in the youth.
“You never know how you’re going to impact the future when you invest in young people,” said Scott. “It’s a privilege for me to be here. It’s all about the youth.”
Scott, whose own musical journey began as a young boy, said his high school band director invested in him when he helped him get accepted into Florida State University as a music student.
He first discovered a love of music in junior high at George Washington Carver School, based in the Coconut Grove neighborhood of Miami, where he excelled at playing the trumpet.
“It didn’t happen all at once, but when the jazz bug bit me – and when I discovered the popularity that musicians can command – I began to spend considerable time practicing my trumpet,” Scott said in his 2005 memoir, “Reflections from Earth Orbit.”
“By eighth grade, I had become one of four lead trumpet players performing regularly with the Carver Junior/Senior High School marching and concert bands.”
Through those band experiences, and later playing with the jazz orchestra at Florida State University, Scott said he learned leadership skills that he still carries to this day.
Those same qualities were seen in the Gifford Youth Orchestra students, who performed at the gala with confidence and poise.
GYO student musician Tatiana Wallace said the organization has helped her to develop her craft with the violin and has also taught her life skills.
“I started with the Gifford Youth Orchestra in second grade. When I began middle school, I started practicing more,” said Wallace, a senior at Vero Beach High School.
“I love it now. I get lots of opportunities. I want to give a big thank you to the Gifford Youth Orchestra for helping me with my social skills, speeches and social interactions.”
Twenty years ago, GYO founder Rev. Dr. Crystal Bujol, a pianist and organist, created the nonprofit to expose children in Gifford to music. They have expanded offerings over the years and now provide musical lessons in strings, piano, drama, voice, dance and percussion.
“Our children have been left behind. Our main goal is to help them have an even playing field and get ahead,” said Bujol. “Where we are now is because of the board of directors and community support.”
Bujol was presented with an award honoring her vision for the organization and her 20 years of service.
Charles “Casey” Lunceford, GYO executive director, said the organization is planning to build a facility with a state-of-the-art recording studio along 45th Street.
“The Gifford Youth Orchestra lets the youth understand what they can be,” said Bujol’s son, Jeryl Thompson, a singer and songwriter, who envisions the studio as a place to teach students how to make and record music, and create podcasts.
For more information, visit GYOTigers.org.
Photos by Brittany Norair
