2023 Press Release

The City of Miami Beach will receive a major upgrade to its park system on Thursday, Oct. 26 at 10 a.m. when officials hold a ribbon-cutting at 85 Street and Collins Avenue to mark the completion of the newly refurbished North Beach Oceanside Park.

“These upgrades will give our residents access to incredible scenic and accessible greenspace,” said Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber.

North Beach Oceanside Park spans nearly 28 acres from 87 to 79 streets along the beach, making it one of the largest green spaces of its kind in the city. The $15.8 million project features an accessible community playground, upgraded dog park, all-weather fitness equipment and easy access to the recently completed Beachwalk.

The project has resulted in a net increase of 188 trees to the park and adjoining parts of the Beachwalk. It also includes new concrete pathways, additional landscaping, new signage, refurbished restrooms and picnic shelters, ornamental entrance gates, upgraded perimeter fencing, security camera infrastructure and turtle-friendly lighting.

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The City of Miami Beach will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 26 at 11:15 a.m. at 73 Street and Ocean Terrace to mark the start of construction on the planned Ocean Terrace Park and Streetscape Improvements, which will feature a new pedestrian promenade and beach drop-off area in the city’s North Beach neighborhood.

“Over a decade in the making, but as they say — good things take time,” shared Miami Beach Commissioner Ricky Arriola. “This new park will provide shade, recreation and a family gathering place for generations of Miami Beach residents.”

The yearlong project, led by Ocean Terrace Holdings, is one of a number of future public and private enhancements intended to usher in an economic resurgence to North Beach over the next 30 years. Ocean Terrace is located along the beachfront and has been the scene of television and movie productions for its similarity to Ocean Drive in South Beach.

The project also includes the construction of pedestrian pathways, improved storm drainage, new landscaping and irrigation equipment, turtle-friendly lighting, a bike lane, water features, an open-air pavilion, security camera infrastructure, a portion of the Beachwalk and beach access.

“This groundbreaking is the culmination of many years of collaboration with the community, city, key commissioners, local stakeholders and residents — all working toward a common goal of creating a pedestrian-friendly and activated space along this two-block stretch of Ocean Terrace,” added Sandor Scher, Principal at Ocean Terrace Holdings. “We are ready to get started and look forward to welcoming everyone to Ocean Terrace Park in the near future.”

A section of the nearby Beachwalk that passes through the site will be temporarily rerouted and will experience detours during construction between 73 and 75 streets, but will remain open for use until the new Beachwalk is completed.

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The City of Miami Beach is inviting all city dogs and their humans to attend a Halloween-themed “Yappy Hour” at Flamingo Park on Friday, Oct. 20 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The park is located at 13 Street and Michigan Avenue.

“Pet owners, lets paws and think about the impact on Biscayne Bay,” remarked Mayor Dan Gelber. “By being mindful of pet waste, we lessen the stormwater pollution and help keep our neighborhoods clean.”

Sponsored by the Miami Beach Environment and Sustainability Department, “Yappy Hour” supports the city’s We Heart Biscayne Bay campaign, which focuses on educating and engaging the public on three major sources of pollution in Biscayne Bay — pet waste, litter and fertilizer.

Pet owners and their dogs are encouraged to show up in Halloween costumes for a howling good time. The event will feature live music, a dog adoption station, a pet costume swap, pet vendors and tips from a veterinarian and dog trainer. The City of Miami Beach is partnering with the Miami-Dade Animal Services Department to provide a dog adoption station.

“This event is also a great way to meet fellow pet owners, enjoy a night out with your furry friend, and learn how to not be Ruff on the Bay” added Commissioner Alex Fernandez. “Pet waste is a pollutant that impacts Biscayne Bay water quality because it contains nitrogen and phosphorous which can deplete oxygen that marine life needs to survive.”

The 2023 Biscayne Bay Economic Study illustrates the Bay has an astounding $64 billion in economic output including $24 billion in income and supporting 448,000 jobs. The City of Miami Beach continues to enact regulations, programs, and infrastructure investments to protect the Bay. It has a unique partnership with Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami to advance Resilient305, a shared resilience strategy that highlights Preserving and Restoring Biscayne Bay as the #1 priority.

To learn more about protecting Biscayne Bay and the We Heart Biscayne Bay campaign, visit www.mbrisingabove.com/biscaynebay.

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Nine philanthropic organizations focused on environmental projects and programs will share more than $100,000 in grants from the City of Miami Beach. The Rising Above grants are intended to promote sustainability, marine resource protection and environmental stewardship.

“These environmental grants will fund beach cleanups, climate literacy, field trips to the Everglades, coastal plantings and large-scale marine sustainability events,” explained Miami Beach City Manager Alina T. Hudak. “All of the projects are aligned with the city’s long-term goal of making Miami Beach a more resilient place to live, work and play.”

Applications were evaluated by city staff based on criteria that includes applicant experience, project benefit, metrics and data as well as social impact, project budget and priority alignment.

Grant recipients include:

Clean Miami Beach — Beach Cleanups ($12,000).
Debris Free Global, Inc. and Ascendance Sustainable Events — Custom Sustainability Plans for Special Events ($17,000).
Friends of the Everglades — Exploring the Everglades and Immersive Learning Kits ($12,000).
Institute for Regional Conservation — Plantings to Restore Coastal Biodiversity ($15,000).
Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center — Field Trips ($15,000).
Miami Beach Fienberg-Fisher K-8 Center — School Butterfly Garden ($4,600).
Miami Beach South Pointe Elementary School — Sustainable Party Decorations ($1,300).
Miami-Dade Coastal Cleanup and Recycle Across America — Standardized Recycling Signage ($15,000).
The CLEO Institute — Climate Resilient Schools Program ($15,100).

Most of the grant funds were generated by the Boucher Brothers Miami Beach LLC Public Beachfront Concession Agreement and the Waste Contract Agreement, which include value-added enhancements to support environmental organizations and their work in Miami Beach.

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The late Celia Cruz, who introduced generations of Americans to the rhythmic beat and fluid movements of salsa, will be honored by the City of Miami Beach on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 5:30 p.m. when a portion of Meridian Avenue will be co-designated as Celia Cruz Way. The ceremony will take place at 1755 Meridian Avenue.

“We proudly announce the naming of a Miami Beach street after the incomparable Celia Cruz,” shared Mayor Dan Gelber. “She brought the world together with her music, and now her name will forever grace our city as a symbol of cultural richness.”

Born in Havana, Cruz delighted U.S. audiences for decades with her “azúcar” catchphrase, infectious smile and powerful voice. The singer would have turned 98 on Oct. 21. She died in Fort Lee, New Jersey in 2003 at 77.

The U.S. Mint will release the 2024 Celia Cruz Quarter as the 14th coin in the American Women Quarters Program and celebrate the singer’s legacy as one of the most popular Latin artists of the 20th century. The quarter features a likeness of George Washington on one side and Cruz on the other flashing her dazzling smile while performing in a rumba style dress.

Known for her elaborate stage costumes, some of which are part of the Smithsonian collections, Cruz recorded more than 90 albums and songs, earning five Grammy Awards in a career that spanned six decades.

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Amateur pickleball players from around the United States will dink and drop their way to Miami Beach’s popular Lincoln Road this November for a chance to share $12,000 in prize money and $6,000 in equipment giveaways when the first-ever South Beach Slam lands in the iconic city from November 17–19.

“We’re excited to host the city’s very first pickleball tournament and welcome hundreds of picklers to Miami Beach,” shared City Manager Alina T. Hudak. “Sports-related tourism is one of the fastest-growing segments of the travel industry and we believe America’s love for pickleball will equal their love for Miami Beach — with our pristine beaches, beautiful hotels, plentiful recreational amenities and elevated cultural experiences.”

The South Beach Slam powered by Fisker is a 10-court, waterfall-style tournament that is open to amateur players of all ages provided they have a free Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR). Registration costs $175 per person and players can sign up as an individual and be paired with another registrant of a similar skill level or they can sign up with a teammate. To register for the tournament or find out how to obtain a DUPR rating, visit www.SouthBeachSlam.com.

Miami Beach residents and visitors are invited to watch the doubles tournament in the municipal parking lot at 1665 Lenox Ave, or attend a free pickleball clinic or lesson on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. Spectators can attend the tournament free of charge and are welcome to bring their furry friends as long as they keep them leashed and away from fenced-in play areas.

Fisker Inc., a California-based electric-vehicle startup co-founded by designer Henrik Fisker, is the official sponsor of the South Beach Slam. One of the company’s brand pillars is sustainability, so Fisker is excited to join Miami Beach as the city seeks to reduce its environmental impact and promote sustainability in general. Fisker will bring three new Fisker Ocean all-electric SUVs to the event, each of which uses over 100 lbs. of recycled materials in their construction.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Miami Beach as the official sponsor of the South Beach Slam,” said Fisker spokesperson Matthew DeBord. “Pickleball is booming, and so is sustainability! Our customers have responded enthusiastically to the fact that the Fisker Ocean has the lowest carbon footprint of any electric SUV on the market, and we think the residents of Miami Beach and tournaments attendees will have a great experience with our vehicle. After all, with our headquarters in Manhattan Beach and our first vehicle named ‘Ocean,’ we already have a lot in common.”

The event is made possible through partnerships with the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority, the Lincoln Road Business Improvement District, Major League Pickleball, DUPR and Oak View Group. The Loews Miami Beach Hotel will serve as the official host hotel and is offering participants and attendees a special promotional rate of $249 per night while inventory lasts.

Players can stay well hydrated and fueled at “The Kitchen” by Yard House. PepsiCo Beverages North America, through their exclusive 10-year, plastic-free partnership with the city, is the official nonalcoholic beverage partner of the tournament. Red Bull serves as the official energy drink. Participants will also be able to use their wristbands for discounts and promotional offerings at various Lincoln Road stores and restaurants throughout the weekend, including Nike Lincoln Road where registration packages will be picked up.

For sponsorship opportunities, contact Greg Carney at gcarney@oakviewgroup.com

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To request this material in alternate format, sign language interpreter (five-day notice required), information on access for persons with disabilities, and/or any accommodation to review any document or participate in any city-sponsored proceedings, call 305.604.2ADA (2232) and select 1 for English or 2 for Spanish, then option 6 to leave a message with your request. TTY users may call via 711 (Florida Relay Service) to communicate with the City. You can also make your request online at www.miamibeachfl.gov/ada by selecting ADA request”

The City of Miami Beach and the Rhythm Foundation are inviting young musicians to audition for the 8^th Annual Miami Beach Youth Music Festival. The deadline to apply is Dec. 15.

“This is a showcase of the most talented young people, not only in Miami Beach but throughout Miami-Dade County,” explained Miami Beach City Manager Alina T. Hudak. “We are amazed every year by the level of performers that we discover at the Youth Music Festival.”

This year’s event will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2024 at the Miami Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave. To apply, musicians 18 and under, who perform live music, must complete an online form at www.miamibeach.rocks and submit audition links.

The event is open to bands or individuals who perform live music of any genre — rock, jazz, Latin, electronic, folk, classical, funk or the spoken word. At least one member of each band must be a resident of Miami-Dade County with an average age of the group under 18 at the time of the Youth Music Festival.

“The Miami Beach Youth Music Festival is back, shining a light on the rising talent within our community,” added Deputy Director of the Rhythm Foundation Benton Galgay. “The Miami Beach Bandshell will come to life with live performances from a full spectrum of genres throughout the theatre and Bandshell Park. Each year we are blown away by the new wave of talent we hear in the submissions; watching as artists launch their careers from our stage!”

Acts that are chosen to perform will receive an honorarium. For more information, send an email to info@rhythmfoundation.com or call 305.672.5202.

WHAT: Miami Beach Youth Music Festival auditions

WHEN: Now through Dec. 15.

WHERE: Visit www.miamibeach.rocks

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The City of Miami Beach has been awarded a $1 million federal grant to plant hundreds of shade trees along the recently competed Beachwalk, a more than 7-mile oceanfront promenade that spans the entire length of the urban resort island from South Beach through North Beach.

“Shade trees will only enhance the experience for people who love to walk, jog or bike on our new Beachwalk,” explained Mayor Dan Gelber. “They are beautiful and in a world that is only getting hotter, make it easier for people of all ages to take in the beauty of our beaches and obtain the health benefits associated with outdoor exercise.”

The grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Urban and Community Forestry Program will cover the cost of reforestation for program-eligible areas of the Beachwalk between 1-23 streets in South Beach, 29-41 streets in Mid Beach and 71-87 streets in North Beach. The 2024 project will be led by the city’s Environment and Sustainability Department.

Other sections of the Beachwalk that are not deemed eligible for the grant money will receive the same native and Florida-friendly canopy trees through the 2018 voter-approved General Obligation Bond.

All of the shade trees that will be used in the project were selected for their hardiness in marine environments and their environmental benefits, including protection against sea level rise, saltwater intrusion and rising temperatures. The types of trees that will be planted include gumbo limbo, live oak, green buttonwoods, stoppers and sea grapes.

The Miami Beach City Commission adopted an Urban Forestry Master Plan in 2020 that seeks to expand the city’s overall tree canopy from 17% to 22% by 2040. Expanding Green Infrastructure is a key action in Resilient305, the shared resilient strategy among Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County, and the city of Miami.

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Boxing legend Muhammad Ali, a beloved former mayor, a renowned preservationist and the 12-time Grammy Award-winning co-founder of the New World Symphony are among eight new inductees who will be honored and enshrined in the Miami Beach Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 10 a.m. in the Miami Beach Convention Center.

“It’s important to recognize the people that have made our City so extraordinary and unique,” explained Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber, whose late parents are among the 2023 inductees.

The new inductees will join Michael Aller, former Mayor Matti Bower, Norman Braman, Barbara Capitman, Emilio and Gloria Estefan, Tony Goldman, Jorge M. Gonzalez, Morris Lapidus, Dr. Solomon “Sol” Lichter, Stephen Muss and Mitchell “Micky” Wolfson, who were previously inducted.

The 2023 class consists of Ali, Judy Nelson Drucker, Russell Galbut, Seymour and Edith Gelber, Jerry Libbin, Nancy Liebman, Mark Samuelian and Michael Tilson Thomas. Eligible candidates must have been born in Miami Beach, made Miami Beach their place of residence or business and/or had a positive and lasting impact on the community.

“I am deeply honored to have served as the chair of the Hall of Fame Committee for our beloved city,” shared Robin Jacobs. “This role allowed me to be part of a wonderful journey, preserving the legacies of those who have made remarkable contributions to our community. It’s a privilege to have been surrounded by a dedicated committee, and work with our city’s leadership and the incredible team of Tourism and Culture at the City of Miami Beach to celebrate the outstanding individuals who have shaped our history. Together, we are fostering a sense of pride and inspiration that will resonate for generations to come.”

A permanent plaque bearing the likeness and accomplishments of each inductee will hang in the South Hallway of the recently renovated Miami Beach Convention Center at 1901 Convention Center Drive.

About the 2023 Inductees

Muhammad Ali

The legendary boxer and civil rights activist overcame 8-1 odds to defeat then heavyweight champion Sonny Liston at the Miami Beach Convention Center on Feb. 25, 1964 in what Sports Illustrated called one of the top 10 sports moments of the 20^th Century.

Still known as Cassius Clay at the time of the championship bout, the fighter changed his name to Muhammad Ali a short time later. He trained at the famed Fifth Street Gym in Miami Beach for much of his professional career and went on to win some of his most memorable contests, including the “Rumble in the Jungle” and the “Battle of New Orleans” during his time here.

Known for his flamboyant style and love of the limelight, it didn’t take long for Muhammad to become a fixture in Miami Beach. Today, he is celebrated around the world as one of the greatest athletes and cultural icons of all time. His fight at the Miami Beach Convention Center placed the city on the world stage like few events could and left a lasting legacy in Miami Beach. Convention Center Drive, which runs along the exterior of the Miami Beach Convention Center, has been co-named Muhammad Ali Way in the fighter’s honor.

Not only did Muhammad win some of his best-known fights during the time he trained here, he also became a beloved member of the local community. His presence brought attention and tourism to the area and inspired young boxers and athletes to follow in his footsteps. Muhammad’s legacy as a civil rights activist and his willingness to speak out on social justice issues continues to inspire the people of Miami Beach and beyond to fight for equality and justice. Muhammad is considered one of the greatest boxers of all time, with a professional record of 56 wins (37 by knockout) and only five losses. He won the world heavyweight championship three times and defended his title a total of 19 times. Muhammad also won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Olympics in Rome.

Judy Nelson Drucker

Born in New York on June 20, 1928, Judy made a lasting impression on the City of Miami Beach. As a child prodigy of music, Judy studied piano at the New York College of Music and voice at the Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute of Music. Judy later studied voice at the University of Miami’s School of Music. She sold out all the major venues in South Florida, including the Miami-Dade County Auditorium, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, New World Center and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Judy brought the most talented and sought-after artists to Miami Beach, including Luciano Pavarotti, Beverly Sills, Isaac Stern, Vladimir Horowitz, Yo-Yo Ma, Leonard Bernstein, Itzhak Perlman, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Evgeny Kissin, Richard Tucker, Twyla Tharp, Zubin Mehta, Pinchas Zukerman, Daniel Barenboim, Wynton Marsalis, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Cecilia Bartoli and the Three Tenors along with conductors James Conlon, Michael Tilson Thomas and Ramón Tebar.

Russell Galbut

Born and raised on Miami Beach, Russell is the third generation of a multigenerational family with five generations — over 100 family members still living in Miami Beach. The family presence has helped shape our Miami Beach community for almost 90 years. The place of one’s birth is always special, and Russell’s heart and soul are embedded in this wonderful city. Galbut’s noteworthy Miami Beach Historic restoration projects include The Alexander, The Shelbourne, The Mondrian, and The Gale and Decoplage to name a few. He was the first to embrace Barbara Capitman and her Art Deco Building Preservation, and his architectural contributions are notably evidenced by the colors and interior at the Shelbourne, and south beach renovations of The Gale, The Mondrian and Kaskades hotels.

As a civic leader, Russell’s role in building The Miami Beach Jewish community Center (MBJCC) is monumental. In 1980, he gifted over $2 million dollars to develop this recreational center on Pine Tree Drive. The Russell and Ronalee Galbut Foundation, established in 2006, is another way the Galbuts give back to the community. Contributions have been made to Camillus House, ASPCA, local Miami Beach food drives and other local Miami Beach charities through this foundation.

Seymour and Edith Gelber

The history of Miami Beach couldn’t be written without considering the accomplishments of Seymour and Edith Gelber. In the early 1990s, the city was at a major inflection point. The previous mayor had been indicted, emerging Hispanic and gay populations felt unseen and unheard and the county’s tourism industry was beset with a “Black boycott.” Miami Beach was in the midst of a true identity crisis. Seymour and Edith came upon the scene as a team and were just what the doctor ordered.

Seymour was a universally respected local judge, former prosecutor and professor who, like so many who benefitted from the GI Bill settled in Miami Beach after his service as an Army Air Corps Buck Sergeant in World War II. Edith was an arts-loving, Ivy League-educated foreign languages teacher cherished by nearly five decades of Miami Beach students. The Gelbers came to Miami Beach from different boroughs of New York but met as teachers at the Normandy School in North Beach in the 1950s — Edith, the intellectual Latin and Spanish teacher and Seymour, the school’s not-so-intellectual athletic director. They fell in love, and for every day of the rest of their lives, never fell out of love.

After retiring from the Circuit Court as the Chief Judge of the Juvenile Court, Seymour decided to run for mayor. Edith, who was also retired from teaching, was up for the adventure. While Seymour received most of the accolades as mayor, anyone who knew them as a couple understood how impactful Edith was in helping shape the character and nature of her husband’s service, especially when it came to the arts.

In the area of arts and culture, Seymour and Edith brought transformational change. Edith was a true believer that a commitment to the arts could elevate a community. Even after retirement from teaching, she volunteered as a docent at our city’s museums. Mayor Gelber, with his wife’s guidance, changed the cultural landscape of our city. He created our Cultural Arts Council and grants process, started the public art program and began discussions with a little art fair at the time from Basel, Switzerland. Seymour played an instrumental role in emphasizing the expansion needs of our established arts organizations such as the Miami City Ballet, New World Symphony, The Wolfsonian and Bass Museum.

Jerry Libbin

Jerry moved to Miami Beach in 1982 and became the executive director of the Miami Beach Jewish Community Center (JCC). He has been involved in numerous civic organizations throughout his life, including the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, where he is an honorary lifetime trustee. He also served as president of the Miami Beach Rotary Club, president of the North Beach Development Corporation, president of the Normandy Shores Homeowners Association (HOA) and has been active in the Nor-Isle Optimist Club. In 2005, Jerry was elected to serve on the Miami Beach City Commission. Shortly after his reelection in 2009, he was hired as president and C.E.O. of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce. After 13 years of service, Jerry will retire from the Chamber of Commerce at the end of 2023.

In his role at the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, Jerry has often been called upon to organize our community business leaders around significant issues. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jerry was asked by then City Manager Jimmy Morales to bring together business leaders from every major industry as well as representatives from the religious community to develop recommendations for the City Commission on how to safely reopen each sector. Almost every recommendation was subsequently approved by the City Commission. Jerry takes great personal satisfaction in knowing he was able to play such a vital role in getting our residents and businesses back to a new normal.

Jerry’s efforts have contributed to Miami Beach’s status as an iconic destination, attracting visitors from all over the world. He continues to make lasting impressions on Miami Beach through his hard work, determination and persistence in supporting Miami Beach residents as well as the arts and culture scene.

Nancy Weinstein Liebman

In 1959, Nancy and her husband, Norman, moved to Miami Beach from Jersey City, New Jersey where she studied education at the Teacher’s College of New Jersey State. One of Nancy’s first successful projects was in the 1980s, where she and other activists prevented Miami-Dade County from changing the Venetian Causeway into a four-lane highway. Nancy served for nine years as a board member of the Miami-Dade Heritage Trust. In 1982, Nancy helped organize the National Trust’s first visit to Miami Beach in advocation for the protection of historic buildings. The visit led to further protections against the demolition of other historic buildings on a local level. Nancy was appointed to the Historic Preservation Board in 1987, which she chaired for six years. In 1989, Nancy was appointed executive director of the Miami Design Preservation League. She successfully lobbied in Washington, D.C. to have Miami Beach’s historic buildings legally retain their original names.

Nancy dedicated her life to Miami Beach, culminating with her appointment to the Miami Beach City Commission in 1993, where she served until 2001 as she continued to support historic preservation. She also wrote hundreds of pro-preservation letters, many of which were published on the editorial pages of the Miami Herald. Her goal was always to maintain Miami Beach’s original character and charm.

Mark Samuelian

Mark Samuelian’s roots in South Florida and Miami Beach ran deep. His grandfather lived in Coral Gables and Mark’s love for the area started in early childhood. A homeowner in Miami Beach since 2003, he enjoyed the richness and diversity of its residents and neighborhoods. Mark met Laura Dominguez, his life partner, in 2012, and they resided on Belle Isle on the Venetian Islands.

Mark’s passion for his community allowed him to be elected to the Miami Beach City Commission in November 2017 with overwhelming resident support. He received 68% of the votes cast and won all 24 precincts. In 2021, he was reelected to office without opposition.

While serving on the Miami Beach City Commission, he was a member of the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee, which adopts the city’s financial policies and oversees the creation and execution of the municipal budget. He also chaired the Land Use and Sustainability Committee, responsible for implementing land use regulations and sustainability policies to include resiliency and sea level rise. Along with his commission aide, Mark addressed over 1,000 resident inquiries and concerns while passing multiple initiatives to enhance the city’s resiliency, public safety and quality of life. Mark served on the Board of Directors for the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, The Board of Governors for the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce and as an advisory board member of the World Affairs Council of Miami. He was also the past president of Miami Beach United.

Michael Tilson Thomas

Michael Tilson Thomas is artistic director laureate of the Miami Beach-based New World Symphony (NWS), as well as music director laureate of the San Francisco Symphony and conductor laureate of the London Symphony Orchestra. With a career spanning nearly six decades, he is one of the most renowned and respected conductors in the history of orchestral music with 12 Grammy Awards. Michael co-founded the New World Symphony in 1987, choosing Miami Beach as its home. A postgraduate orchestral academy dedicated to preparing young musicians of diverse backgrounds for leadership roles in classical music, the New World Symphony has long been at the forefront of developments in the arts and in education. As artistic director laureate, he works with orchestral fellows to further their performance abilities and expand their understanding of professional responsibilities in an ever-changing musical environment. His vision for New World Center was to have it serve both as a home for the symphony as well as a cultural hub where the Miami Beach community could enjoy free concerts in SoundScape Park outside the concert hall. When not in use for live performances, Michael committed that New World Center would display visual art on the exterior wall that could be enjoyed by all residents and visitors.

Though Michael’s career is international, he often says his legacy lies in Miami Beach through the New World Symphony. In its first 35 years of operation, New World Symphony produced more than 1,200 alumni, 90% of whom maintain careers in music working in over 30 countries. In Miami Beach, fellows perform more than 60 concerts each season. More than a third of the performances are free to the Miami Beach community. Michael has also crafted community engagement activities that place New World Symphony fellows in schools, hospitals and community centers for educational performances and lectures. After their three-year fellowship ends, many alumni have stayed in Miami Beach to continue the community connections developed while they were fellows. Michael fosters this entrepreneurial spirit and connection to the community. He has inspired the talented youth of South Florida through the symphony’s annual Side-by-Side Concerts, where local young musicians perform alongside fellows at the New World Center. He has also led the creation of Project 305, in which NWS sourced materials from the local community to create the symphonic documentary, “Miami in Movements.” The project provided an authentic representation of our city that embraces issues of race, class, ethnicity, wealth disbursement, sea level rise, natural disasters and community well-being. With the New World Center campus and NWS’s WALLCAST® concerts, Michael has invigorated the Miami Beach cultural scene. Outdoor audiences are frequently a melting pot of ages, cultures and languages that reflect the diversity of the community. Michael’s contribution to Miami Beach was also reflected in his selection for the only human-inspired token to be included in the Miami and the Beaches Monopoly game.

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The Miami Beach Hispanic Affairs Committee has announced the winners of the 2023 Hispanic Heritage Awards, which honor individuals or businesses from the Hispanic community who live or work in Miami Beach and have made a positive contribution to the community.

“We are pleased to once again celebrate Hispanic Heritage month in the City of Miami Beach,” shared Hispanic Affairs Committee Chairperson Rosary Plana Falero. “In doing so, we proudly recognize distinguished Hispanic businesses and individuals within our city that contribute in their own respective ways to the safety, education, culture and health of our entire community. We are proud and honored to have this opportunity to celebrate all of the award recipients and their accomplishments.”

The 2023 Hispanic Heritage Award winners will be honored on Thursday, Oct. 5 during a 6 p.m. ceremony at the Rum Room Miami Beach (2100 Washington Ave.):

Adult Contributing to Success of Youth

Enrique Villa, Miami Beach Parks & Recreation

Artist

Anabela de las Nieves Bergero

Artist Supporting Elderly

Kiley Hernandez

Business

Cortadito Coffee House
Miami Beach Life Magazine

Educator

Monica Varela

Hispanic Community Member

Louis Aguirre
Dan Rios

Outstanding Individual in a Non-Profit Supporting Arts in the Community

Silvia Karman Cubiña

Public Safety Personnel

Noel Castillo, Miami Beach Police
Walter Javier, Miami Beach Fire

Social Service Provider

Magui Benitez

Youth Under 18 Involved in Community Service

Alejandra Rain Jimenez
Gabriela Suarez

The Hispanic Affairs Committee is an advisory body to the Miami Beach City Commission and the administration on matters pertaining to the Hispanic community in the City of Miami Beach.

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Category: 2023 Press Release

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