Basic History
(up-dated: 08/26/11)

BEETHOVEN
Society of Miami-Dade

10^th Anniversary

October 31^st, 2010 – October 31^st, 2011

All year long Celebration…..

Dr. Sanford L. Ziff, Honorary Chairman & Principal Adviser

Gustavo Alfredo Noguera, Founder & Executive Director

305-244-7722  /  beethovenmiami@yahoo.com

www.beethovenuniversal.org

Including

BEETHOVEN Promenade

The longest park in the world dedicated to

Ludwig Van Beethoven

encompassing the Society’s

Beethoven-Ziff Family Legacy
Benefactors Bricks & Tiles

with timeless stone plaques with our donors’ names.

BASIC HISTORY

BEETHOVEN Society of Miami-Dade

10^th Anniversary

The origin of the BEETHOVEN Society of Miami-Dade took place on October 2nd, 2000, when the journalist Gustavo Alfredo Noguera gave birth to the idea of transforming two blocks of S.E/S.W. 9^th Street in the Brickell area of Miami, into the Beethoven’s 9^th Symphony Street.

The copy of the first well preserved public document about this “Beethovian” matter was a letter sent to then Consul General of Germany in Miami ten years ago, dated October 31^st, 2000.

Later on, in order to receive grant support from the City of Miami and the County of Miami-Dade, it was necessary to set-up a not-for-profit organization. Thus the “BEETHOVEN Society of Miami-Dade” was founded in 2002 “to advocate for the promotion
of Beethoven’s life and works”.

Dr. Sanford L. Ziff was its First Chairman of the Board.
He is the current Honorary Chairman & Principal Adviser.

The BEETHOVEN Society seeks “… to shine and promote – locally and around the world, the life and musical works of
Ludwig Van Beethoven….”

The mission of the Society is to present live, convenient, free concerts of Beethoven’s music, as well as classical music in general, to the public of Miami-Dade County. Particular emphasis is given to bringing live performances to students, the elderly,
children and underserved populations.

Also, to provide an opportunity for professional and amateur musicians, as well as qualified student musicians, to continue their lifelong study and performance of classical music.

To further its mission, the Society
“…. seeks to feature local soloists in performances of Beethoven’s music and music of the standard classical repertoire;
to participate in local festivals and celebrations,
and to collaborate with other performing groups…..”

Also, with our advocacy for the actual
BEETHOVEN’s Ninth Symphony Street
and the
BEETHOVEN Promenade Project,

we are working to make Miami
the well-known international cultural city we all deserve.

BEETHOVEN Society of Miami-Dade

Basic list of achievements and projects from 2000 to present,

highlighting the Beethoven Promenade:

1. Successfully worked with the Mayor and the Commission of the City of Miami, for the co-designation of S.E./S.W. Ninth Street, two blocks in the heart of Miami's Financial District/ Brickell area, to be named as Beethoven's Ninth Symphony Street, on December 15, 2002.

2. Inspired by the initiative of the Society, a community grass-roots movement persuaded the County of Miami-Dade to withdraw its initial plans -- vigorously opposed by the resident’s community -- to develop an interstate bus stop at the Brickell Metrorail Station.

3. In Sept. 2003, the County of Miami-Dade, Board of Commissioners, responding to the advocacy of the BEETHOVEN Society, dedicated the BEETHOVEN Promenade, North of the Brickell Metrorail Station, Miami-Dade Transit. It’s a space 80 feet wide and – initially - two blocks long under the elevated tracks, from the Brickell Metrorail Station, Main Entrance, to S.W. Eight Street. With this unique and special occasion, it was inaugurated a musical welcome: At the train station, as trains arrive - over 150 times daily - the passengers on the platform are greeted with the opening notes of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony…!

On April 7^th, 2009, the county of Miami-Dade, Board of Commissioners, approved the Resolution No. 090477 for the extension of the BEETHOVEN Promenade two blocks north, for a total of four blocks - 0.32 miles/0.51kilometers - all the way to the Miami River’s South shore. Hence, the BEETHOVEN Promenade became the largest park in the world devoted to Ludwig Van Beethoven.

Below, our vision of the BEETHOVEN Promenade components (North/South)

1/ Beethoven Odeum (Small Open Air Theater)

2/ Beethoven “Greenway” (With Robert Indiana’s Nine Numbers/Ninth Symphonies)

3/ Gigantic Music Box

4/ Modern Beethoven Statue

5/ Sculpture Garden
6/ Beethoven Statue Replica (To be bring from Bonn)
7/ Mini-Botanical & Butterfly Garden

8/ European Union Flags Plaza

9/ Beethoven Promenade Bronze Plaque
(plus the “Beethoven-Ziff Family’s Benefactors Bricks & Tiles Base”)

Perhaps the most important focus of this development at this point are our efforts to establish the co-designation of the BEETHOVEN Promenade, as the BEETHOVEN Promenade/EUROPEAN UNION Park.

With the full support of the Hon. Joâo Vale de Almeida, European Union Ambassador & Head of Delegation to the United States, and with the occasion of the European Union Day 2011 Celebration in Miami, we had the “Soft Opening” of the co-designation of the BEETHOVEN Promenade/EUROPEAN UNION Park. The “Official Opening” will have place at the end of 2011.

The final County Resolution for the BEETHOVEN Promenade-EUROPEAN UNION co-designation will be issue between Sep/Oct. 2011

This public space has been utilized for different cultural and musical activities presented by the Beethoven Society. It is located in the heart of the Brickell area, just across from the Mary Brickell Village, an upscale shopping center with boutiques and restaurants.

The AIA/American Institute of Architects/Miami Chapter, approved their participation on the BEETHOVEN Promenade’s development. An international competition for a Preliminary Concept Plan will be led by the local AIA.

During early 2009, 27 students of the Miami-Dade College, School of Architecture, created design models for a future BEETHOVEN Promenade.

The Society is presenting the Promenade to the FTA/Federal Transit Administration, looking for to benefit from their “Arts in Public Transit Facilities Program”.

The BEETHOVEN Society has been in contact with the offices of the Zaha Hadid and Santiago Calatrava, two of the most renowned architects in the world, inviting them to join the development of the BEETHOVEN Promenade, as a real international landmark and icon to reflect the cultural vitality of Miami as “The Capital of The Americas”.

Also, the Society established a contact with Maestro Robert Indiana, international renewed sculptor, looking for to bring his famous Numbers to be displayed as the Beethoven’s Nine Symphonies at the North side of the Promenade, as part of the one block Beethoven’s “Greenway”.

With the occasion of “Valentine’s Day 2011”, and due to the kindness of Miami-Dade Transit, the Beethoven Society presented the event “For the Love to Beethoven”, with the Unveiling of the First Stone of the “Beethoven- Ziff Family Legacy Benefactors Bricks & Tiles” sited, with matching funds kindly donated by Dr. Sanford L. Ziff, at the Beethoven Promenade/Brick ell Metrorail Station.

A free and open to the public Beethoven’s Concert Series at the new BEETHOVEN-ZIFF Family Legacy Site/BEETHOVEN Promenade, is being organize with the participation of the “BEETHOVEN Society Strings Quartet“ for a First Sundays Monthly Concerts, for a tentative Opening at the end of 2011.

We proposed to “Fairchild Tropical Botanical Park” (FTBP) to consider the use of one area of the BEETHOVEN Promenade as a promotional extension of their main facility. In fact, with the cooperation of Prof. Roger Hammer, leading Botanical, Naturist and international authority on butterflies, and member of FTBP the Beethoven-Brickell Butterflies Garden at the Promenade is being considered. It’s being proposed to the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, too.

BEETHOVEN Promenade’s GPS finding:

1000 S.W. 1st Avenue

MIAMI FL 33130

5. The BEETHOVEN Society proudly owns the Ludwig VAN Beethoven, a vintage ’67 old VW Van, which will be restored as an eco-friendly shuttle vehicle, for a free transportation of people around the BEETHOVEN Promenade in Brick ell.

6. We are preparing a public audio-visual display of the planned new Bonn’s BEETHOVEN Concert Hall. The winner of the two architectural finalists firms, Ms. Zaha Hadid, based in London and Herman & Valentiny of Luxemburg, will be chosen during 2011.

7. With the cooperation of the Alhambra Orchestra, Miami’s Community Orchestra, the BEETHOVEN Society produced the largest classical music concert ever held in the Brickell area at Miami’s oldest church, the First Presbyterian Church of Miami. For the past years, these free concerts have been attended by almost 1,000 people per concert.  With the Alhambra Orchestra we initiated the very popular annual Concerts named it “609… 6/09… 6:09…” The name originated from the church street number (609), the annual date of the Concert (6/09), and the time of the performance. (6:09 p.m.). Additionally, in the chapel of the same church the Society has recreated the events surrounding the Beethoven Memorial at the Vienna Cemetery 170 years ago.

8. The BEETHOVEN Society is the volunteer Florida representative of BeethovenFest Bonn, the largest Beethoven Music Festival in the World.

9. In 2006 we initiated the “Concerts for Healing” at Mercy Hospital in Miami.

10. The Society produced one hour television weekly program in Spanish for WLRN-Public Television/Miami “BEETHOVEN Universal TV” from September 2007 until January 2009. It was the ONLY TV program devoted to classical music in Spanish in Miami, Florida, and possibly in the United States.

12. The Beethoven Society is working on a project related to a seven foot sculpture called “Transparent Beethoven” to be developed by the French sculptor Charlotte Franchisey. The project is planned for be presented to the consideration of Volkswagen AG, as part of the proposed permanent video exhibit at the BEETHOVEN Promenade of their world famous “Transparent Factory” sited in Dresden, Germany.

13. In January 27^th, 2010, the Beethoven Society, in cooperation with Allegro Music Center, offered the First of the “CCC/Camillus Classical Concerts” Series. Violinists Beatriz Vera and Manuel Berberian performed to the most underserved people of our community.

Also, with the occasion of Ludwig Van Beethoven’s 240^th Birthday Celebration, December 16^th, 2010, the Second “CCC” took place at Camillus House, the appropriated place for the first presentation of our very own musical group.

In fact, it was the First Presentation of the “BEETHOVEN SOCIETY STRINGS QUARTET” with Veronica Dicker & Belinda Ho, violins; Lisa, Espinosa, cello and Vivian Torres, viola. Thanks to Camillus House and Bricks’ R Us for their co-sponsorship.

14. Look for the presence of the Beethoven Society of Miami-Dade on Facebook & Twitter by October, 2011.

Acknowledges:

The BEETHOVEN Society of Miami-Dade wish to express its gratitude and recognition to the Consuls General of Germany in Florida, whom offered us their permanent support and advise during these last 10 years. They are, in chronological order: Hon. Fritz von Rottenburg, Hon. Volker Anding, Hon. Eva Alexandra Countess Kendeffy (first term), Hon. Klaus H.D. Ranner, and Hon. Countess Kendeffy (second term).

In relation with the current European Union General Consuls in Miami, we wish to underline the special care and interest toward the BEETHOVEN Promenade Project received from Consul Kendeffy, and from the Hon. Gaël de Maisonneuve, Consul General of France. And, of course, from the Hon. Manuel Molina, Honorary Consul of Belgium in Miami, our “Beethoven Promenade’s Counselor & Beethoven Society’s Principal Fund-raising Coordinator”.

Our thanks to the City of Miami, Mayor Tomas Regalado (then Commissioner Regalado) and to Commissioner Willy Gort (then, in his first term, and now in his second one) for their support on the City Ordinance’s approval of the Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony Street, on December 15^th, 2002 (Beethoven’s Birthday Eve).

Our gratitude to County of Miami-Dade, Commissioner Bruno Barreiro for sponsoring the Original Resolution No.R-463-3 dedicating the first BEETHOVEN Promenade’s two blocks on May 6^th 2003. We extend our gratitude to all the 13 Board of the County Commissioners for their unanimously approval.

Of course, also our thanks – again – to Commissioner Barreiro for his sponsorship of the Second Resolution, extending the Beethoven Promenade two blocks more, for the total of the actual four, on April 7^th, 2009.Our gratitude to the full Board of Commissioners for their – again – unanimously approval.

Our sincere thanks to Mr. HarpalKapoor, Director, Miami-Dade Transit; to Mr. Clinton Forbes, Mr. Kapoor’s Senior Assistant, and to Mr. Gregory N. Robinson, Superintendent Rail Transportation. We remember, too, Mr. Kapoor’s predecessor, Mr. Roosevelt Bradley. Our thanks too, to Miami-Dade Transit Eng. Isabel Padron, Chief Design & Engineering and to Ms. Michelle Simmons, Mr. Kapoor’s Liaison with the Beethoven Society.

Also, our warm greetings to our current Board of Directors composed by Dr. Sanford L. Ziff, Ms. Johan Askowitz, Mr. Edward L. Cooke, Arch. Oliver Weirich, as well to our Directors from the past: Mr. Julian Kreeger, Mr. Andy Korge, and to the new nominated one, Ms. Carmenza Jaramillo.

Even he is not longer with us and returned to his native country, special recognition to Hon. Santiago Cabanas, former Consul General of Spain in Miami, for his support at the begin of the Beethoven Promenade’s activities.

To the extraordinary advocate of The Arts, Ms. Stella Holmes and her Overseas Realty Partners, our gratitude for her support in various classical music events.

We recognize and express our sincere gratitude to Mr. Malcom B. Wiseheart and the Wiseheart Foundation for their spontaneous donation.

The name of Ms. Diane De Vries Ashley is part of this grateful list, remembering her sponsorship to one of our concerts during her position at Bank of America.

Special mention to the AIA/American Institute of Architects/Miami Chapter, Arch Cricket Snow, Current President and Arch. Naty Soto, Past President.

Our permanent gratitude to Arch. Thorn Grafton & Arch. Edward Berounsky, Beethoven Society, Architectural Senior Adviser.

Thanks to the Brickell Area Association and the Brickell Homeowners Association for their continuous support.

Our recognition, too, to the Colombian-American Society of Architects & Engineers, South Florida Chapter, for their cooperation.

On the musical side, our gratitude to the First Presbyterian Church of Miami, where the Beethoven Society started its public Concerts, including our very successful “609… 6/09… 6:09…” Thanks to the Church for accepting during a very looooong time our Ludwig VAN Beethoven on its parking lot.

Plenty of gratitude to Rev. Neil Wyrick, former Church Pastor, for his devotion and care toward our Society.

We remember with affection Maestro Reggie Nicholson (R.I.P.) late Conductor of the “Alhambra Orchestra”, as our First Artistic Director. The Alhambra Orchestra under his baton, did play for us the firsts, largest and more succeful Concerts (Standing Room Only) at the Church.

Also, thanks to our dear friend Robert Andai and his devoted help videotaping our musical activities. Congratulations for his sons, two wonderful violinists: Daniel & David.

Thanks to WLRN-TV Public Television: to Bernadette Siy, Station Manager; to Adrienne M. Kennedy, Special Projects Manager; to John M. Stubbs, Senior Producer Learn Channel, for their care and patience during our years presenting the weekly program “BEETHOVEN Universal TV”. To Mr. Jorge Mora and Herman Parra, the TV program producers.

A very special mention to our dear friend, the journalist Daniel Fernandez, who from his weekly column “Notas Altas y Bajas” published in El Nuevo Herald, expressed his continuous support to all the Beethoven Society activities.

And, of course, our embrace of recognition to our dear friend Jonathan Rose, the “Official Poet” of the Society.

Special mention to Mercedes Rodriguez & Lara, for her care about our TV program’s archives and continuity.

Thanks to Tomas Martinez, Caracol Radio Miami, Vice-President & General Manager.

Our gratitude - again - to Jorge Mora, Caracol Radio Miami, for the inclusion of “Beethoven Universal” in his “Monitor” weekly magazine. Also, to Mr. Hector Marchisio, for his admiration and care.

Thanks to Mario Maniera, Caracol Radio Miami, Director, “Si AmaneceNosVamos” for the “Beethoven Universal” space in his radio nightly program.

And what a better way to celebrate our Tenth Anniversary on Octuber 31^st, 2010, that getting reservation for the first Beethoven’s Benefactor Plate. In fact, our long-life friend Alfonso Lizarazo, Colombian Radio & TV personality & country ex-Senator did order the first one. 

Last but not least, our gratitude to Mr. Nick James from SHAW-ROSS International Importers, for his permanent kindness providing us with his excellent German wines.

BEETHOVEN Society of Miami-Dade
Brickell P.O. Box 31-0035   /   Miami FL 33231-0035

305-244-7722    /    beethovenmiami@yahoo.com

www.beethovenuniversal.org

Dr. Sanford L. Ziff, Honorary Chairman & Principal Adviser

Gustavo Alfredo Noguera, Founder & Executive Director