For 22 years the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra (LCSO) has been presenting the highest quality artistic symphonic programing for the Irving community. Each year the symphony must work to raise the funds to provide this exceptional programming. The LCSO Annual Fund exists to bridge the gap between earned income and expenses. Ticket sales provide only a part of the income that it takes to bring a professional orchestra to our community. Through the LCSO’s Annual Fund donors are able to make a positive impact on the community and enrich the lives of thousands of Irving residents each year. By supporting the LCSO through a tax deductible charitable donation, donors help sustain the musical artistry of this magnificent ensemble while gaining an inside perspective that brings the community closer to the music and the artists.

The Annual Fund support for the LCSO allows for international artists of such esteem reputation as Paul Silverthorne, principal violist of the London Symphony Orchestra; Daniel del Pino, renowned Spanish pianist; Jan Jiracek, Cliburn Competition winner to name a few.

Other programs the LCSO is able to offer through contributions to the Annual Fund are a tuition – free youth orchestra, the LSYO; Young People’s Concerts, bringing over 3000 elementary students to a fully professional concert giving these students a rare opportunity to see a live symphonic performance; Conversations in Music, a program that provides shut-in seniors of retirement communities, elementary schools in the Irving Independent School district, and summer children’s programs the opportunity to engage in a live performance of a small ensemble from the LCSO; and Kidsnotes, a program designed for preschool children that brings a musician from the LCSO, a story hour, and an instrument petting zoo to young people to inspire and create interest in music and the arts.

Through this Annual Campaign, LCSO strives to reach a goal that will allow the orchestra to help inspire music lovers along with new and future patrons. This ensures that outstanding regional musicians have an outlet for their exceptional craft, encourages young musicians, and provides a human connection to the arts that comes from the experience of music.

To make a contribution to the LCSO’s Annual Fund Campaign, visit the LCSO website at www.lascolinassymphony.org or call 972-252-4800.

Source: Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra

Based in Irving, TX, the Lone Star Youth Orchestra (LSYO) is beginning the new semester with rehearsals for their upcoming concert, Pops On Tour, on March 6 at the Irving Arts Center. Featuring music by Grieg, the annual pops concert will also include selections from Les Miserables and John Williams’ Raider’s March. The LSYO consists of middle and high school students from over 15 metroplex school districts.

Featuring many talented young musicians from around the area, the Lone Star Youth Orchestra is the only tuition-free youth orchestra in the metroplex. Brian Mendez, an All-State qualifying trumpet player and Wylie High School junior, states, “It’s a great opportunity to play in Lone Star because our high school does not offer full orchestra. This is where we learn to play orchestral repertoire, and we have a lot of fun together each week at rehearsal.”

In order to support the LSYO, students are preparing for two upcoming fundraisers this spring. One is the Otis Spunkmeyer cookie fundraiser, which will take place in February and March with cookie delivery before the Easter holiday. The Lone Star Youth Orchestra will also continue its tradition of having a Silent Auction in conjunction with the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra (LCSO), its parent organization. The LSYO is collecting donated items to auction off through the end of March for the May 11 event.

Students are greatly anticipating the opportunity to play with members of the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra in the annual Side-By-Side concert, which takes place on March 16, 2013. Sophomore trumpet player Bobby Price, an All-Area qualifier, states, “It’s very exciting to have the chance to play with the professional players in the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra. My private teacher plays in the orchestra, and it would be an incredible experience to play alongside him.”

To support the LSYO, please consider participating in our two spring fundraisers or attending our two remaining concerts this spring on March 6 and May 15. Tickets are available for purchase at the door or online at http://www.irvingartscenter.com/Performances/BuyTickets.aspx .

The LSYO rehearses weekly on Wednesday evenings at the Irving Arts Center. To join the Lone Star Youth Orchestra, please call Education Director, Lauren Penick, at 972.252.4800 to set up an audition time.

Source: Lone Star Youth Orchestra

The Keep Irving Beautiful board and staff guided the program through many fun and exciting activities in 2012. KIB hosted and participated in 10 cleanups that involved 550 volunteers who contributed 1,543 hours collecting 19,640 lbs. of trash and 1,375 lbs. of recyclable materials from both the land and waterways in our community. In addition to the volunteer effort, we worked with 95 community service workers who completed 366 hours, cleaning over 77 miles of streets and collecting over 1,760 lbs. of trash. KIB also helped keep our community cleaner through our Green Event Pro-gram like the Fall Festival at the local YMCA. This year we supported 28 events that collected recyclable material. This program helps reduce what goes to our landfill, which in turn increases the life span of the landfill.

Keep Irving Beautiful also participated in 9 beautification projects and this year our theme was paint, paint and more paint! Eighty-eight volunteers donated 418 hours painting pavilions at Running Bear, Hurwitz, and nearby Luzon Parks. KIB volunteers also painted the gazebo at Heritage Park, the hand rails at Senter Park, the youth meeting room at Northwest Recreation Center and the bathrooms at Lively Pointe Recreation Center. KIB, spearheaded by Margie Stipes, also found time to help plant some trees. In fact, we helped plant 24 native trees in our community. A beautiful tree was planted on the grounds at the Nissan child care center and then with the help of VHA Inc. and the students from Thomas Haley, 22 trees were planted on the school grounds.

Lastly, in partnership with the City of Irving Parks Department, Irving I.S.D. and Abitibi Bowater we celebrated Arbor Day by planting a tree at T.J. Lee Elementary School. This year T.J. Lee was the top paper recycler. They collected 50,000 lbs. of paper!

Education remained a focus in 2012. Keep Irving Beautiful board and staff attended several school career days where we were able to talk about our efforts and encourage the teachers and students to continue to help make our community a better place to live, work and play! Guided by Dr. Yolanda Romero, we continued our work with the students and staff from North Lake College. North Lake students stood side by side and partnered with us on nearly all of our events. This was our 8th and 9th semester that we worked with the Service Learning Program. Twenty-eigth students completed 390 hours of service.

Our signature event “Trinity Trash Bash” brought together 100’s of students from the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and the student body at large, making a huge impact.

Together, we make a great team! A big thank you to all the North Lake College students, faculty and staff.

Source: Keep Irving Beautiful

The Irving Family YMCA has tremendous momentum moving into the 2013 year. On the heels of another successful year in 2012, staff and volunteer are poised to build on the foundation of programs addressing critical community needs.

Since 2010, our primary focus has been in the areas: A-Risk Teen Programming, Childhood Obesity Prevention and Literacy/School prep for children birth to 5 years old. In each of these areas we continue to see incredible increases in volunteerism, funding support and program growth. In 2012, more than 700 volunteers gave nearly 18,000 hours of their time to help our Y-staff team impact just over 9,000 children and families within our community. Our 2012 Campaign saw staff and volunteers raise $130,000 on a goal of $110K. This was the 4th straight successful campaign which has seen our goal (because of increased need) rise from $60K to our current goal of $135,000 for 2013.

We are so proud to say that our Teen Enrichment programs are impacting close to 300 Middle School and High School students each week. New partnerships like that with the Hackberry Creek Social Club and the La Buena Vida Foundationare helping our staff team introduced new and exciting program opportunities for our young people. Our Play & Learn program has expanded to a total of 11 sites thanks to a lead gift from Sam’s Club allowing us to impact more than 175 children (birth to 5) and their caregivers each week. Salsa, Sabor y Salud and F.I.T. for Health impacted 180 families (650+ people) in the area of obesity prevention. “Salsa” & “F.I.T. are 8 week programs where the entire family learns strategies on how to shop, cook and eat healthier and are given a weekly opportunity to ‘play’ together. Pre/Post testing as well as graduation testimonials indicated a successful program that is having a positive impact on all participants. These programs would not be possible without the support of the Irving Healthcare Foundation who has drawn a line in the sand to help reverse the statistics on Childhood Obesity.

And then there’s Miracle League. A tremendous collaborative effort by the YMCA and the City of Irving to allow special needs children a unique opportunity to PLAY BALL, exercise and socialize! Dr. Pepper – Snapple of Irving provides a generous gift so that this program is free to all participants. While we are thrilled to have achieved these goals within critical areas, we know that the need in each of these continues to grow.

Give us a call and let us show how you can join the Irving YMCA in 2013 as we expand our work to Strengthen the Foundation of our Great Community.

Source: Irving Family YMCA