Sinfonia Gulf Coast’s Link Up Hits the Right Notes for Students

By Zandra Wolfgram

On March 12, the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center transformed into a kid-inspired jazz festival. Nearly 3,000 energetic 3rd to 5th graders, recorders in hand, swayed, clapped, and played along with Sinfonia Gulf Coast for its 13th Link Up performance, "The Orchestra Swings." With a lively program conducted by Aaron King Vaughn and featuring classics like Duke Ellington’s It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) and George Gershwin’s I Got Rhythm, this year’s performance was a high-energy celebration of music education at its finest.

For many of these students, this was their first time experiencing a live symphony orchestra. Some had never held an instrument before Link Up. "For most of these kids, they’ve never even seen a symphony orchestra," said Sinfonia Treble Maker and former Sinfonia Gulf Coast employee Elaine Tucker. "They don’t even realize what they’re getting to do." But as the performance unfolded, any nervousness faded into sheer joy as young musicians found themselves immersed in the music.

The Link Up program, a national initiative by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute, pairs professional orchestras with students in a year-long curriculum exploring rhythm, melody, and musical expression. Locally, it serves as the only music education some students receive all year.

"Link Up is my favorite concert of the year because it's a culmination of all of our partnership activities with Carnegie Hall in the schools," said Sinfonia Gulf Coast’s Music & Artistic Director, Demetrius Fuller. "And while it's the craziest sound you've ever heard, it’s just a wonderful amalgamation of music, theory, and learning how to play the recorder. And often, it’s the only arts education these kids get, so it’s very important that we continue to support this."

For students like 9-year-old Cecilia Owen, the experience was pure magic. "I was most excited to play my recorder," she said, grinning ear to ear. "And the dance moves! We practiced at school!" That enthusiasm is echoed by teachers who witness firsthand the impact of Link Up on their students. "As soon as we get here, the environment, the atmosphere—it’s just lively, it’s fun," said Katie McCullen, a teacher at Butler Elementary. "Music helps their thinking skills and problem-solving. It’s amazing to see how much they enjoy it."

Music educator Shalyce Kauzlarich, a longtime Link Up hostess, has seen that joy for nearly a decade. "I love seeing the joy on the kids' faces when it combines the recorder with the orchestra," she said. "This has become a tradition. I look forward to it every year."

But for all its joyful noise, Link Up also serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of funding music education. With school budgets tightening, programs like these are critical to ensuring students still have access to the arts. "If we cut music programs, we’re hurting ourselves," said Tucker. "Music and science and math are all connected. When we lose one, we limit opportunities for our kids."

Thanks to the support from the St. Joe Community Foundation, the Dugas Family Foundation, and the Emeril Lagasse Family Foundation—along with funding from Sinfonia Gulf Coast’s Crescendo! annual fundraiser, Treble Makers (an honorary membership committee of Crescendo!), and community donors—Link Up has grown into Sinfonia’s largest education outreach program. And if this year’s performance is any indication, it is hitting all the right notes for students, educators, and the community alike.

"It’s all about giving kids an experience they’ll never forget," Fuller said. "Who knows? Maybe one of them will be inspired to become a musician. But at the very least, they’ve had a moment where they connected with music in a way that will stay with them forever."

With instruments packed away and the echoes of swing music still lingering, one thing is clear: Link Up is more than just a concert—it’s a movement, keeping the rhythm of music education alive for the next generation.