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T
H E S O U T H E R N T
I E R S Y M P H O N Y
JOHN WHITNEY - MUSIC DIRECTOR
(Left: Dr. Anthony Evans, Center: Mr. John Whitney, Right: Mr. Robert Meyers)
We are beginning a "campaign" fund-raiser that we've held the last
several years called "Maestro for a Moment." Two or three local
citizens are invited to compete with one another to get votes (dollars)
for the orchestra. The winner gets to conduct the encore at our
season's final concert...on May 3 at Olean HS this year.
For the past ten years, Dr.
Anthony Evans has been the Executive Director of the Cattaraugus
County Youth Bureau, a department that administers state funding to
the municipalities of the county for parks, recreation and youth
programs, especially in the non-school hours. The Youth Bureau also
administers the Children with Special Needs program, Youth Courts,
Detention Services, court mandated electric monitoring of juveniles,
EvenStart in Olean, runaway and homeless services, and Independent
Living Skills classes.
They also sponsor up to 40 AmeriCorps
members who mentor youth in various settings.
Additionally Dr. Evans is responsible for several youth development and
delinquency prevention initiatives as well as the lead agent for the
Integrated County Planning Project. He is also the county coordinator
for the Rite Aid Drug Quiz Show, the Tim Horton's Youth Campership
Program and the Youth Citizenship Awards Program.
He has been successful as a grant writer and annually obtains hundreds
of thousands of dollars for county youth programs through research based
needs assessment and outcomes planning documentation.
Tony is a native of North Carolina and has a BA from Campbell College, a
Master of Divinity and a Doctorate from Colgate Rochester Divinity
School. In addition to his county work, he currently serves as supply
pastor of the First Presbyterian Churches of Olean and Allegany. He also
serves on the Board of Directors of the Allegheny- Highlands Boy Scout
Council, the Cattaraugus Regional Community Foundation and is active in
the Rotary Club of Olean.
He is married to Sydney Snyder Evans and they are the parents of four
sons.
Bob Meyers is a sophomore at Allegany-Limestone high school. He has had
several private music teachers, most recently Miss Carol Swanson for
piano. Having played piano for almost a decade and flute for six years,
he aspires to be a music major in college.
Bob has enjoyed a wide experience in music performance. For the last
three years, he has won first place in instrumental solo in the County
Fair Talent show, and last year gained first place overall. Also last
year, he was in the finals of the New York State Fair Talent Show.
Participating in his brother’s “Battle of the Bands,” his band won 2nd
place. He plays piano weekly in the praise band of Olean’s Christ United
Methodist Church, and also participates in the Saint Bonaventure Junior
Jazz Band. For the last two
years, he accepted invitations to perform (on flute) for the St.
Bonaventure graduation ceremony.
In the world of theater, Bob recently attained the lead role of Luther
Billis in the Allegany-Limestone musical production of “South Pacific.”
He has also participated in productions of “Cinderella” and “All
I Need to Know, I learned in Kindergarten.”
Last fall, he sang with a select chorus of 50 high school
students and the Southern Tier Symphony.