Project #3: Proposal

Nicholas Moreo ENC324, April 13, 2025

Project Title

New York Philharmonic Youth Mentorship Program

 

Project Objective

I plan to work as an intern at the Lincoln Center in New York with the New York Philharmonic to become more proficient in my musical skills, practicing in ensembles and one-on-one practices for the duration of the summer. Learn other aspects of being a musician such as concert planning, team building, and even conducting. Build a brand for myself to hopefully establish a career in the fine arts to one day perform with a high-profile orchestra.

 

Project Background and Significance

Being a passionate musician, it is always a dream of any musician to be able to carry their passion or hobby into a career. I have been playing instruments since the fourth grade and have been playing my Alto Saxophone since the sixth grade. In that time, I have made several achievements as a musician such as superior scores in county and state solo and ensembles as well as being chosen for All County and All State bands whilst I was in high school. This was the point I decided that I wanted to take my music career to the next level as it was not just another class to take in high school. I took on leadership roles within the band and even became lead in my concert and jazz band as a saxophone player. Once graduating high school, I know I wanted to do more, and even though I had a goal of getting a STEM degree, music has always been my passion. Moving into college I have been able to become a Marching Knight at UCF and perform with a few friends and ensembles. As I have furthered my education, I made the decision that I would like to pursue a career in music and one of the best ways to do so is to get your foot in the door with high profile ensembles. One of which is the New York Philharmonic. After contacting a few band directors including my own in high school who know some people in the field, I was able to get information about the New York Philharmonic Youth Mentorship Program. This Program allows pre-professional musicians to attend workshops and performances that will enhance the musicianship and give them an understanding of the professional practices. I have been accepted for this program along with my communal ensemble to join this program. This opportunity is integral to becoming a better musician and solidifying a career as a musician. In high school our band went on a trip to visit the New York Philharmonic perform at the Lincoln Center and it was lifechanging. After seeing what is possible on a professional level, doing whatever it takes to get this is what I have decided to do.

 

Research Methods

I am honored that my ensemble has been accepted to attend the Youth Mentorship Program with the New York Philharmonic this summer. As a dedicated saxophone player with aspirations for pursuing a professional music career, this opportunity represents a pivotal step in my musical development. To make the most of this experience, I am seeking grant support to help me fully engage with the program and carry out the following steps toward my personal and artistic growth.

First, I will prepare thoroughly by refining my technique, expanding my repertoire, and increasing my familiarity with the musical selections that may be part of the program. I will continue private lessons and engage in ensemble rehearsals to ensure I am contributing my best to my group’s performance. Once in the program, I will actively participate in all mentorship activities, masterclasses, rehearsals, and performances. I intend to learn directly from the Philharmonic’s professional musicians, gaining not only performance insight but also understanding of what it takes to succeed in a highly competitive field. I also plan on creating several connections with those in the program and the ones conducting to better help my case of getting to work for the ensemble itself one day.

Following the program, I plan to give back to my local school and music community. I will organize a performance and presentation to share what I’ve learned with younger music students and peers. This includes passing on specific techniques and practice methods taught by the Philharmonic mentors and encouraging other students to pursue similar opportunities. This grant will help offset travel, making it possible for me to attend and fully participate. With this support, I will be one step closer to achieving my goal of becoming a professional musician, and I will be better equipped to inspire and mentor others in turn.

 

Expected Outcome

Following my participation in the Youth Mentorship Program with the New York Philharmonic, I plan to create and share several meaningful deliverables that reflect the growth and insight I will gain during this experience.

The first major goal will be a reflective performance and presentation at UCF, where I will showcase what I’ve learned musically and personally. I will perform selected pieces from the program repertoire, demonstrating the technical and expressive techniques I developed under the mentorship of Philharmonic professionals. Alongside the performance, I will give a presentation to students, faculty, and the local music community, sharing the behind-the-scenes experiences, practice methods, and performance insights I acquired. This will be both educational and inspirational for younger musicians considering similar paths.

In addition, I will offer one-on-one and small group lessons to peers and younger students at UCF and potentially even high school students. These sessions will focus on the skills and concepts I learned during the mentorship, such as tone development, advanced articulation, musical interpretation, and ensemble communication. I want to create a supportive space for students to ask questions, explore their instruments more deeply, and receive individualized guidance. By mentoring others, I hope to pass on the opportunities I’ve been given and encourage a cycle of musical growth and collaboration.

Through this mentorship, I expect to gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to be a professional musician, not just in terms of musical skill, but also discipline, collaboration, and emotional expression. I will experience the high-level standards and expectations of one of the world's greatest orchestras, which will elevate my own approach to music. I will also gain insight into ensemble dynamics, leadership, and how mentorship can transform artistic development. This opportunity will truly be a turning point in my life by fleshing out my passion into a career and something used to support other people’s musical passion. Ultimately, this project will give me not just knowledge, but a platform to share, inspire, and grow, both as a musician and as a mentor to others.

 

Literature Review

N/A

Preliminary Work and Experience

Having been a musician throughout my childhood and into adulthood as a college student I have had many opportunities to perform. As mentioned earlier, in high school I was able to prove my skills as a musician by auditioning for the All State and All County Florida bands and was able to be accepted into both my senior year. This gave me a similar experience to what I will be doing in this Mentorship which helps with what to expect. I have also traveled as a musician as I was able to also perform in the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Parade in 2017. I am also currently in the UCF Marching Knights program and Concert Band. As you can see, I am thankful to have several opportunities to further my passion as a musician and try out the different paths one can take, the next step is to attend this once in a lifetime mentorship.

 

IRB/IACUC statement

This project does not require IRB or IACUC approval.

 

Budget

The timeline for this mentorship is a summer program so it will take place from June 2025 to August 2025, I will be traveling as an individual, but my ensemble will be meeting up on June 5th in Manhattan. Thankfully the mentorship is an all-included program as it is supported by several foundations.

The current plan for budgeting is to have money separated for travel, housing, and amenities such as food and anything else that may be done while in New York. I plan to cover all food and amenities myself, however, help with travel would be greatly appreciated. I am requesting $500 to help with travel and a little bit of housing. Having this grant will not only help me, but others at UCF that know of this program that are unable to attend that I will be able to share my experiences with.