Commissioner David Richardson requested at the October 13, 2021 Commission meeting to place an item for discussion on the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee agenda to discuss the City of Miami Beach Committee for Quality Education's motion requesting the Mayor and City Commission provide annual funding up to $30,000 to the Miami Beach Rock Ensemble with Young Musicians Unite.  The Rock Ensemble, founded by the late Doug Burris in 1972, is the first school-based ensemble of its kind in our nation's history. The student-led musical group is a combination of musicians, stage crew and a sound engineering team. The Rock Ensemble comes together to play classic and modern rock and lends vocational experience to its students through engaging them in professional environments at a young age. Many professional musicians and sound engineers have passed through the ranks of the Rock Ensemble over its 50-year run. The Rock Ensemble performs for over 10,000 community members a year and inspires thousands of students to pick up an instrument for the very first time.

The Miami Beach Senior High Rock Ensemble has historically been part of the school day curriculum up until a few years ago.   As such, the program is no longer funded by Miami-Dade County Public Schools as a part of the in-school curriculum.  For the 2020-21 school year, the Miami Beach Rock Ensemble was funded by the City as an afterschool enrichment at a cost of $10,000.

The Miami Beach High School Rock Ensemble is a legendary ensemble on Miami Beach which includes 12-15 performing musicians, a stage tech crew of 5-8 students, and a student management team. The ensemble sets up their own sound and equipment for rehearsals and shows across the city.  The Miami Beach youth  historically perform in a minimum of 10 performances annually and compete nationally.

The Miami Beach Rock Ensemble 50th Anniversay will take place on Saturday, May 28, 2022.  The 40th Anniversary saw over 150 musicians from all over the United States collaborate for months in order to perform at the historic concert.  The show sold out and over 1,500 current and former Miami Beach residents attended the event at the Miami Beach Senior High School auditorium. 

These past few years, Young Musicians Unite (YMU) has supported the Miami Beach Rock Ensemble by providng staff members to instruct the students and support the live concerts.   YMU continues to support the Rock Ensemble by giving young musicians an environment to network with peers, create new work, and be inspired by the creative energy of like-minded students.   For the 2021-22 school year, YMU has already planned several live public and private performances such as the following:

 YMU Presents! Halloween Youth Shows @ Lakeview

Annual Doug Burris Tribute Showcase @ The North Beach Bandshell

The Miami Beach Youth Music Festival @ The North Beach Bandshell

YMU Presents! Youth Showcase @ The Normandy Fountain

YMU Presents! Youth Showcase @ Altos Del Mar Park

YMU Presents! Youth Showcase @ The Euclid Circle on Lincoln Road

Arts and Culture Day @ North Beach Elementary                         

YMU’s 9th Annual Spring Benefit Concert @ The North Beach Bandshell

Youth Performance @ The Normandy Fountain

Per YMU, it costs approximately $88,000 per year to fund and train the ensemble for a full school year as an after-school program.  This would include a minimum of 10 performances, national competitions, and weekly sessions with students at the Miami Beach Senior High School campus.   YMU is seeking a match of up to $30,000 to support and sustain the Miami Beach Rock Ensemble as an afterschool program for Miami Beach youth.