Presentation of KMFA Violin at the Austin Soundwaves End of Year Concert on May 16, 2017. From left to right: Samuel Olmos, KMFA violin winner; Monica Balleza, previous KMFA violin winner; Austin Soundwaves Program Director Patrick Slevin; and KMFA Director of Marketing & Communications Amanda Faraone. Garcia, Julie. The Hispanic Alliance, May 2017.
KMFA Classical 89.5 is honored to extend its partnership with the Hispanic Alliance by offering an Austin Soundwaves violinist the opportunity to apply for use of the KMFA Violin, a finely handcrafted replica of a 1742 Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesu violin by William Townsend and donated by The Amati Foundation, which believes that access to exceptional instruments helps to make exceptional musicians.
Samuel Olmos, an eleventh-grade violinist and five-year veteran of the program was selected as the newest recipient of the KMFA Violin, which was announced at the Austin Soundwaves End of Year Concert on May 16, 2017.
In his application essay for the KMFA violin, Samuel wrote:
Music...brings people together, allowing them to experience the emotions of the composer, or at least the emotions the composer wanted them to experience. This shows us that we all have the same heart and spirit; that we are truly a community. As John Denver said, “Music proves: We are the same.”
We are so happy to congratulate Samuel on this achievement, and look forward to watching his progress!