Ten middle and high school members of the Cathedral Arts Project String Orchestra earned a performance at a prestigious New York City venue after winning first place in an international music competition’s audition round.
N’Diyah B., Kercy F., Giavanna N., Genala R., Jerome S., Tobyn S., Marielly S., Yuri S., Landon S. and Detrick T. — Cathedral Arts does not provide students’ last names for privacy reasons — now head to the Crescendo International Music Competition’s winners recital.
The ensemble of 10 eighth- through 11th-graders from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, River City Science Academy and Samuel Wolfson School for Advanced Studies will perform Feb. 1 at Carnegie Hall.
“Watching my students earn such a prestigious honor is an incredible moment for all of us,” said Josh Stone, the arts education nonprofit’s teaching artist fellow in strings and director of its string orchestra. “The Crescendo competition gives them a real look at the stamina and self-discipline it takes to succeed as a professional and seeing them rise to that challenge is what makes teaching so rewarding.
“I’m so impressed by the work they’ve put in to reach this level,” he said.
Cathedral Arts is an afterschool program in dance, media arts, music, theater and visual arts. Its orchestra consists of current and former string students in fourth through 12th grades who “collaborate, perform and further their understanding of classical and contemporary music,” according to the nonprofit.
“Experiences like the Crescendo competition are vital because they challenge students to match their natural talent with the self-discipline required in the professional world in any career,” said the Rev. Kimberly Hyatt, president and CEO of Cathedral Arts. “Our mission has always been about providing access to the arts and seeing these students realize their potential on such a prestigious stage is a testament to their hard work.”
Crescendo is a youth music competition held annually since 2007. The nonprofit’s competitions are open to junior, intermediate and advanced levels for instrumentalists, vocalists, duets and chamber ensembles. The Jacksonville group performed via video.
The top winners of the recital round win cash prizes and may apply for Crescendo’s International Student Exchange Program, which includes performances with students from the “most prestigious music schools and universities around the world, networking with other musicians and master classes and lectures by renowned musicians.” In 2025, exchange programs were in Tokyo, Helsinki and Prague.
Cathedral Arts was launched in 1993 by a small group from St. John’s Cathedral in Jacksonville, beginning with a 10-student dance class. The program now reaches about 36,000 youth at a variety of sites in Duval, Nassau, Clay and St. Johns counties.
To donate, volunteer or get more information, contact Cathedral Arts at207 N. Laura St., Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32202; (904) 281-5599 or go to capkids.org.
bcravey@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4109
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: 10 Cathedral Arts students win ‘prestigious’ Carnegie Hall recital
Reporting by Beth Reese Cravey, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
