Krzysztof Rucinski, 18-year old violinist from Poznan, Poland came to

the United States for the first time last December under sponsorship

of FAYM to perform in Arizona and Nevada. Two concerto appearances with

orchestra and four solo recitals culminated in a recital at the Henderson, NV

home of Luana DeVol, internationally acclaimed opera diva. That recital officially

launched FAYM and its effort to make Kris’s dream of attending the Eastman

School of Music in the United States a reality. And through the generosity

of many, as well as scholarship assistance from Eastman, Kris has now com-

pleted his first semester as a first-year performance major studying with the

noted violinist Oleh Krysa. The four-year value of Krzysztof ’s scholarship is

over $200,000.

turning dreams into reality

Just a year ago, on December 20,

2007, the Foundation to Assist

Young Musicians was born. Since

then, it has succeeded in pursuing

its mission of encouraging and sup-

porting gifted young musicians in 1)

early training, 2) advanced study, and

3) professional career development,

specifically those who are in need of

financial and/or mentoring support

up to the age of 26.

Many, through their generous con-

tributions to FAYM, joined us in this

mission, and through their assistance

FAYM has accomplished a great deal.

We wish to share with you the activities

that have been made possible.

news from faym!

faym Times The NewsleTTer of The fouNdaTioN To assisT youNg musiciaNs

issue 1 Volume 1

in tHis issue

launching deserving talent 2

Victorious returns! 3

the world is Hearing 3 what’s Happening in lV

Contributors 4

Krzysztof with his teacher Oleh Krysa at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NYKrzysztof Rucinski playing at the home of Luana DeVol

In January, 2008 Las Vegas

pianist, Corbin Beisner,

appeared as soloist with the

Lafayette Symphony Orches-

tra in Indiana performing

Beethoven’s Piano Concerto #3

with Harold Weller as guest

conductor. Previously Corbin

had been chosen by Mae-

stro Weller to perform on the

Connoisseur Series of the Las

Vegas Philharmonic and as

soloist with the Philharmonic

at a Family Concert in 2007.

Of Corbin’s performance,

Dick Jaeger, music critic for

the Lafayette Journal & Cou-

rier wrote, “Beisner showed

a brilliance in executing the

demanding piano score with

the aplomb of a pianist twice

(or more) his age…I can

hardly wait to hear him a few

years into his future, for he

will make the musical rafters

tremble with his power and

understanding of the piano

literature.” Corbin returned to

Las Vegas in May to appear on

FAYM’s “Victorious Returns”

recital. He is currently a senior

at the Hartt School of Music

in Hartford, Connecticut and

will graduate this spring.

launCHing deserVing talent

FAYM is playing an active role in

advancing the message of how music

can transform the lives of youngsters us-

ing the model known as EL Sistema, a

system of music training for largely at-

risk youngsters in Venezuela that was

founded 33 years ago by Maestro Jose’

Antonio Abreu.

FAYM Trustee Hal Weller met with Dr.

Abreu in Denver at the NPAC Confer-

ence last June. Dr. Abreu has accepted

Weller’s invitation to speak at the In-

ternational Conductors Guild An-

nual Conference in NYC on January 11,

2009. FAYM is taking an active role in

El Sistema efforts worldwide, and most

notably in New York City where a peti-

tion signing effort, if successful, will re-

instate music for 1,100,000 students in

the NYC public schools.

FAYM’s website at www.myspace.com/

theFAYM has information and videos

about both Suzuki Violin training and

the El Sistema program.

Hal Weller and Maestro Abreu in Denver last June

Pianist Corbin Beisner

el sistema initiatiVes

In May, 2008, FAYM presented

“Victorious Returns!”, a recital

featuring the best and brightest

musicians who had grown up in

the Las Vegas Valley and who are

now studying at prestigious mu-

sic schools across the nation. Per-

forming were pianists Alexandria

Le and Corbin Beisner; violinists

James Reinarz and Jeremy Rhizor;

and violist Tobias Roth. Also fea-

tured on the program were Suzuki

violin students from the Nevada

School of the Arts under master

teacher, Mary Straub. A near-ca-

pacity audience at Independence

Hall in Henderson was thrilled by

the talents of these extraordinary

young musicians. Musicians were

introduced by notable FAYM sup-

porters Gary Karr, Luana DeVol,

Rod LaRocque, Charles Jackson,

and Shakeh Ghoukasian

ViCtorious returns!

FAYM is a devoted supporter of the Las Vegas Youth

Orchestras, a program composed of four orchestras with

over 300 young musicians participating. FAYM assisted The Youth

Philharmonic in making its target budget to take its first European

tour last spring. The Youth Philharmonic, under the direction

of Charles Jackson, performed in Vienna, Salzburg, and Prague.

For more information, visit: www.LVYO.org.

tHe world is Hearing wHat’s Happening in lV

FAYM trustee Hal Weller has served on the Board of the Nevada

School of the Arts since 1999. The rededication of the Fifth

Street School as the new home for the Nevada School of the Arts on

September 22, 2008 was a long time dream realized for many. The

$13.5M restoration project was financed by redevelopment funds

from the City of Las Vegas. All citizens can now take pride in this

historic Las Vegas landmark that is once again a vital and vibrant

educational facility! For more about the Nevada School of the Arts

see: www.nsamusic.org

an unsung treasure

Mayor Oscar & Carolyn Goodman with Hal Weller at the opening of the Historic Fifth Street School

The Historic Fifth Street School -- New home for the Nevada School of the Arts

The Las Vegas Youth Philharmonic in Smetana Hall in Prague

Pianist Alexandria Le

Violinist James Reinarz

Plans are going froward to implement and augment Suzuki

Violin training in the Las Vegas Valley. With invaluable

help from volunteer Arturo Ochoa, retired former principal of

Sunrise Acres Elementary School, a program is soon to be an-

nounced for music instruction for kindergarden-age students in

the Sunrise Acres area. Funds are being raised to hire a teacher

for this inner city program for at-risk youngsters.

on-going proJeCts

$10,000 and aboVeHarold & Elizabeth Weller

$5,000 - $9,999Luana DeVol

Marilyn LaRocqueCharles Nielsen

$2,500 - $4,999The Holmes Family in Memory of

Marian L. Holmes-Fried (Flagstaff, AZ)Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Murray

$1,000 - $2,499Frances M. Campbell

Jeri L. CrawfordChurch of the Red Rocks (Sedona, AZ)

James & Sandra FrankGary Karr & Harmon Lewis (Victoria, B.C.)

Roman & Halina RozyckiStern Family Foundation Mr. & Mrs. E. A. Woolston

$500 - $999Richard T. Crawford

Mrs. Janet F. Dean (Flagstaff, AZ)Lee ImperialJoey R. Luna

Juliana Brown McRaeSun City Anthem

$250 - $499Elaine V. German

Network for Good (On-line contributions)Mr. Harry Sax

Verde Valley Sinfonietta (Sedona, AZ)

$100 - $249Anonymous Donors (Flagstaff, AZ)

Yvonne J. CloutierDr. David & Cynnea Davis (Dana Point, CA)

Andrew Emmett (Winston-Salem, NC)William & Marilyn Hehn

Marian L. Holmes-Fried (Flagstaff, AZ)Chuck & Blair Jackson

Tom M. Kirshbaum (Flagstaff, AZ)Richard F. Kolda (Rio Rancho, NM)

Howard LammThe Las Vegas Master Singers

Frank & Gloria OgielaDennis Ortwein

Ralston O. Pitts (Mesa, AZ)Kevin Mullins (Flagstaff, AZ)Hans & Marilyn Neumann

Stanley H. Rosen

below $100Mr. & Mrs. Daniel M. Abrams (Phoenix, AZ)

Carol B. Alford (Miamisburg, OH)Bill Bernatis

Ingrid Boatright (Jacksonville, FL)

Mr. & Mrs. James E. Bonnell (Albuquerque, NM)

A. Elaine Carey (Kettering, OH)Jason Dickinson (Macao, Macau)

Bernice A. FischerDaniel Friesen (Toronto, Canada)

Carl E. Forbriger (Dayton, OH)Shakeh Ghoukasian

Roger Hewett (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)Sandy Hobgood (Chapel Hill, NC)

Dr. Richard Hynson (Milwaukee, WI)Dave & Marilyn Kapel

Lydia Kapell (Florence, MA)Yeou-Cheng Ma (New York, NY)

Janice McKayJohn & Anita Meyer

Bev PattonKaren Rile (Philadelphia, PA)

Jolanta Rucinska (Poznan, Poland)Krzysztof Rucinski (Poznan, Poland) Anne Stevens (Orange, Australia)

Mary StraubLisbeth West (Loveland, CO)

Scott Whitfield (Los Angeles, CA)Ryan Yahl (Bowling Green, OH)

Bernice Zandona (Sydney, Australia)Ronald B. Zedd (Norfolk, VA)

seleCted in-Kind Contributors

Luana DeVol, Artistic Initatives/HospitalityMarilyn & Rod LaRocque,

Publicity & Accounting/HospitalityStephen Waldron, CPA, FAYM Treasurer,

Layton Layton & ToblerAlan Duff, FAYM Account Executive,

Morgan StanleyRobert Passaro, Video ProductionStephen DeVol, Video Production

Roman & Halina Rozycki, Hospitality/MentorshipJeri & Rick Crawford, Hospitality/Mentorship

Arturo Ochoa, Suzuki InitiativeAntonio Dias, Suzuki InitiativeChris Murray, Suzuki Initiative

Karl & Mary Bruner, Victorious ReturnsSouthern Nevada Music,

Victorious ReturnsLayne T. Rushforth, Attorney at Law

Ed Prudhomme, Attorney at LawPatrick C. Clary, Attorney at Laws

And many, many others Thank You!!

Foundation to Assist Young MusiCiansContributions from december, 2007 to december, 2008. Contributors are from the las Vegas Valley unless otherwise noted.

faym has received contributions from donors in 12 states of the union as well as Canada, australia, poland and China.

beCome part of tHe FAYM family today

Name(s) ______________________________________________________

Address/Street __________________________________________________

City _______________________________State_________ Zip___________

Email ____________________________ Phone_______________________

I/we wish to contribute: $100 $250 $500 $1000 Other $ _______

Please make checks payable to FAYM and mail to: FAYM • Harold Weller, Trustee • 9513 Coral Way • Las Vegas, NV 89117

You may also charge your contribution on-line at: myspace.com/TheFAYM(All major credit cards accepted)

The Foundation to Assist Young Musicians is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit corporation. EIN Number 26-1472871.

clip and mail

play your part

FAYM is an all-volunteer non-profit. All proceeds go directly to assisting young musicians. Its mission is to

encourage and support gifted young musicians in (1) early

training, (2) advanced study, and (3) professional career

development.

Individual donations to date have ranged from $10 to Over $10,000. Your support is now vital to continue & advance

the work of FAYM. Your contribution to the FOUNDATION TO ASSIST

YOUNG MUSICIANS will help make turn musical dreams into reality!

Newsletter production & printing donated by hal & Betsy weller