At Alhambra Music Inc., our mission is to enrich lives through accessible, meaningful, and affordable music programs that resonate both locally and globally. Through a diverse array of initiatives such as chamber performances, engaging children’s programs, vibrant summer events, concerto competitions, and grand symphony performances, we aim to educate, engage, and empower our community. By fostering a deep appreciation for historic and timeless music, we strive to sustain lifelong connections to the arts. Join us as we celebrate the transformative power of music, making it accessible to thousands in our South Florida community and beyond.
Embodying Artistic Excellence and Dedication to Our City’s People
As one of Miami’s longest-standing music organizations, the Alhambra Orchestra is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals, families, and communities through unparalleled musical experiences. Our commitment lies in fostering an inclusive and culturally resonant community orchestra, where everyone can explore and connect with the rich tapestry of historic and impactful music. By offering accessible performances and engaging programs, we strive to inspire a profound appreciation for the arts and strengthen the cultural fabric of our city.
The Alhambra Orchestra is a vibrant community resource dedicated to making classical music and music education accessible to Miami-Dade County’s diverse population. Its members passionately believe in music as a lifelong pursuit that enriches our community and enhances our humanity. The orchestra rehearses weekly during the concert season and presents 10-12 public performances annually, with nearly all events offered free of charge.
Founded in 1990 by Dr. Leo Walz, the orchestra began as a response to the absence of a community orchestra in this populous county. Starting with students and community members, it initially performed in churches, schools, and libraries. In 1995, Alhambra Music, Inc. was incorporated to obtain 501(c)(3) status, marking a period of substantial growth. The orchestra’s original home was a church in Coral Gables, situated on Alhambra Street, now demolished.
In 2000, governance transitioned to an elected board composed primarily of member musicians, a structure that remains today. Over its 35-plus years, the orchestra has expanded its budget, secured larger venues, evolved into a full-sized symphony capable of performing major classical repertoire, and significantly increased its audience reach. It has firmly established itself as a pivotal member of Miami-Dade’s music community. Despite its growth, the orchestra maintains its independent, self-governing ethos with a volunteer board and mostly volunteer musicians.
Today, under the leadership of an experienced executive director and a diverse board of business professionals, students, and music professionals, the orchestra continues to thrive. Many of its 65-plus trained musicians pursue professions outside of music but contribute their talents for the love of the art. Critic Daniel Fernandez of El Nuevo Herald has praised the orchestra’s artists, noting their caliber rivals that of ensembles with significantly higher ticket prices. The current artistic director and conductor is Dr. Daniel Andai, renowned as the Dean of Music at New World School of the Arts and concertmaster of the Miami Symphony Orchestra.
Through collaborative efforts and the generous donation of time and talent by its musicians, the Alhambra Orchestra consistently delivers a full season of high-quality performances, predominantly free of charge. Exciting events and ambitious goals lie ahead for the orchestra’s upcoming seasons.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
| Daniel Andai, Artistic, Co-Executive Director | Carolina De Leon, Director |
| Helen Hauser, Co-Executive Director | Matt Leone, Director |
| August Neal, President | Carol Naveira-Nicholson, Director |
| Joe Yeargin, Vice President | Vladimir Perez Popov, Director |
| Javier Albornoz, Secretary | Ruth Smith, Director |
| Janet Copeland, Treasurer | Barbara Tria, Director |
| Kelvin Clavelo,, Director | Pamela Yen, Director |
| Sophia Camejo, Director |
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
| ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CONDUCTOR Daniel Andai |
CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Helen Hauser |
| FINANCE DIRECTOR Janet Copeland |
PRESIDENT August Neal |
| GRANTS DIRECTOR Helen Hauser |
MARKETING DIRECTOR Orlando Haddock |
| VIDEO RECORDING Matt Leone |
PHOTOGRAPHER Danny Montana |
| PERSONNEL DIRECTOR Joe Yeargin |
NEW MEMBER AMBASSADOR Joe Yeargin |
| FIRST IMPRESSION/BRAND AMBASSADOR Javier Albornoz |
MUSIC LIBRARIAN Carol Naveira-Nicholson |
Building Partnerships for Musical Excellence
Since its inception, the Alhambra Orchestra has forged partnerships with schools, community organizations, and fellow arts entities. Each season, we engage over 6,000 concertgoers through a diverse array of performances, including two major symphonic concerts, a Halloween concert, a children’s concert, a full-length chamber concert, and numerous outreach events featuring small groups of musicians. While some concerts, held in collaboration with other organizations, have a small admission fee, most programs are offered free of charge.
In pursuit of our mission to promote classical music and music education, the Alhambra Orchestra offers complimentary school visits by chamber groups upon request, hosts a prestigious concerto competition for youth, and organizes an annual weekend chamber music workshop for students and adults at the University of Miami. Our concerts typically draw audiences of over 450 music enthusiasts, while our annual Halloween concert attracts approximately 1,580 attendees, primarily families and children.
Recent collaborative partners include esteemed organizations such as the Civic Chorale of Greater Miami, Miami Acting Company, Miami Collegium Musicum, the Greater Miami Youth Symphony, the Bergonzi Quartet, The Children’s Trust, Pinecrest Gardens, Manny Perez Voice Studio, Riuniti Opera, Temple Beth Am, and Coral Gables Congregational Church. With a reputation for creativity, financial stability, and adaptability, the Alhambra Orchestra remains committed to exploring innovative ways to enrich our community through exceptional musical experiences.
Chamber Music Annual Workshop
The Alhambra Orchestra runs a yearly workshop to allow chamber ensembles of varied types to study and be coached on a work of their own choosing. Each group spends the weekend perfecting its piece, aiming toward a performance of one movement at the end. Groups are strongly encouraged, but not required, to perform. There is a class with informal performances by the instructors, as well as many chances to meet new friends and play great music together.
Practice sessions and performances take place in Coral Gables, Miami at the University of Miami’s Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music. Coral Gables, a beautiful city only minutes from the airport, beaches and tourist attractions of Greater Miami.
Our workshops take place in early January. Tuition for the entire session is $200, including refreshments. (Lodging and meals are not included.) Full-time students have precedence for scholarship funding.
Ray Millette Annual Young Artist Concerto Competition
The Alhambra Orchestra has established a Young Artists Concerto Competition in memory of Ray Millette, one of the founders of the admired and renown Miami-based orchestra. This annual contest, for middle and high-school students, has been proudly instituted and administered by Alhambra Music Inc. for over sixteen years.
The Concerto Competition serves to recognize the emerging talent in South Florida, allow them to play with a full orchestra, and reward them with scholarship money. The finalists are invited to compete in front of a panel of eminent judges. The competition, open to young musicians from South Florida, accepts contestants from middle school through senior year of high school, including graduating seniors. Any young aspiring orchestral musician trained in any of the following instruments is encouraged to apply: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone; french horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba; percussion, harp, piano; violin, viola, cello, guitar or double bass.
We are active on social media and would love to connect with you! Please follow our pages and engage in our channels.
MEET OUR CONDUCTOR, CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Maestro Daniel Andai
Hailed as an “Exemplary Leader” by the New York Times for leading members of New York Philharmonic and Manhattan School of Music in Carnegie Hall, violinist Daniel Andai has shared his versatile artistry as a soloist, recitalist, chamber musician, concertmaster, conductor and recording artist in major concert venues across 50 countries. He is a prizewinner of numerous competitions and soloed with orchestras around the world.
Daniel Andai is concertmaster of Miami Symphony Orchestra (MISO) with whom he made special solo appearances, including a performance on a violin from the Holocaust surviving Violins of Hope collection and a feature during a private induction ceremony for JAXA Astronaut Soichi Noguchi’s to the Genius 100 Visionary roster, while he orbited Earth aboard the International Space Station. He was concertmaster and soloist of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas in New York and recorded multiple Billboard rated SONY Classical CD’s. He appeared as guest concertmaster with orchestras in Mexico, Brazil, Switzerland, and France, and performed in the sections of New York Philharmonic and Miyazaki Festival Orchestra (Japan). He also worked closely with members of major string quartets, symphony, opera, and ballet orchestras from around the world.
Dr. Daniel Andai is an educator and Dean of the Music Division at New World School of the Arts (Miami, Florida) where he is the Chief Academic Officer, responsible for operating an institutional partnership between Miami Dade College, University of Florida, and Miami Dade County Public Schools. He is Artistic Director of Killington Music Festival (Killington, Vermont), Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of Alhambra Orchestra in Miami, and previously served as violin professor and Marialice Shivers Endowed Chair in Fine Arts at University of Texas in Edinburg. He has participated in over 30 summer music festivals and performed with countless recognized artists in the pop and classical fields.
He has served on boards and advisory boards, been invited to serve as a panelist for Jeb and Columba Bush’s Arts4Life organization, and performed for numerous world dignitaries, including Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, Lech Walesa, Al Gore, Benjamin Netanyahu, among others. Daniel Andai is an alumnus of University of Miami (DMA), Manhattan School of Music (PS & MM), Lynn University (BM), New World School of the Arts (HS) and Miami Dade College.