After several months of contemplating moving to Florida, we began researching homes on-line. With family in Ormond Beach, the search was on. However, while looking for schools and activities, I came across the Flagler Youth Orchestra with Jonathan May as its conductor and Cheryl Tristam as its administrator. After several emails to Cheryl and many…

On the topic of learning to read music and traveling the world, our beloved Jonathan May once said, “You can travel to any country and not be able to speak or understand their spoken language, but start playing with the musicians and everyone understands each other.” What a gift our children have been given here…

As parents and residents of Palm Coast for more than 23 years, we want you to know how our family has been impacted by FYO. Our oldest daughter Annabel is 12, and has just completed her fourth year with FYO. She has flourished in the program, dedicating hours to practice at home, and this year…

Who would have thought that even the sound of children tuning their instruments could conjure images of dew soaked fields, its mist stirred only as the sun passes its hand across the not yet cut grass, wild still and untouched except, perhaps by a fawn, brave enough to venture out from the brush and into…

Tristan started with the FYO in September ’12. While he thought is sounded “cool” to play violin, he didn’t realize the work that went into it. He didn’t make it through the first year, because he just didn’t want to practice. After several talks about commitment, both to his fellow orchestra members and topersonal improvement,…