MUSIC IS THE FOOD OF LIFE
144 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | MAY/JUNE 2019
sophomore Marco Jimenez, 16, who
wowed the judges playing piano
and violin. The competition featured
about 40 young musicians, ages
8 to 18.
One former winner, Kaitlyn
Resler, who participated in the
2012 competition, was accepted to
the Juilliard School of Music, where
she earned her bachelor’s degree.
In the middle of master’s studies
this past fall, Kaitlyn came back,
auditioned and won her position
as 2nd French Horn in The Florida
Orchestra, playing the very same
French horn that Justine LeBaron
played for 30 years. Justine’s
husband, who is also a judge for the
competition, presented Justine’s horn to
Kaitlyn. Justine was not only the orchestra’s
principal French horn player for years, but
a loving wife, mother, grandmother and
model. She left us much too soon at the
age of 65.
St. Pete College donates use of the
Gibbs Campus Music Building to the
competition every year, providing two
baby grand pianos and support staff
for the competition. Of all the events
and concerts I have served as master of
ceremonies over the years, this one really
strikes home. When you hear French horns
in The Florida Orchestra, Justine LeBaron’s
legacy lives on. 9
EDITOR’S NOTE: John Wilson, who
retired from Fox TV in 2014, worked more
than 50 years in radio and television news
broadcasting.
COMMAERNTTARY
The Florida Orchestra does
much more than play
beautiful music. Years ago,
members of the orchestra
began awarding cash prizes to
exceptionally talented youngsters
under the age of 22. These grand
prize winners get to play special
concerts with the orchestra; and one
of those winners, Justine LeBaron,
became a talented musician who
came back and joined the orchestra
as a French horn player. When
Justine died seven years ago
after playing for 30 years, Florida
Orchestra members resumed the
competition in her name to honor
her memory. The Justine LeBaron Young
Artists Competition recognizes the stars
of tomorrow.
After getting her degree in music at
State University of New York, Justine
appeared in many magazines including
Vogue. She gave up a modeling career that
was calling her to Paris when she decided
to join The Florida Orchestra in 1974 and
dedicate her career to the French horn.
She sat in the orchestra directly in front of
her husband, trumpet player Don Owen.
The young artists competition actually
began in the 1970s, but was suspended
for several years, starting up again after
Justine passed away. Florida Orchestra
members headed by William Mickelsen,
a tuba player and St. Pete College and
University of South Florida adjunct
professor, named this competition in
Justine’s honor. Award recipients receive
cash prizes and an opportunity to play
special concerts with the orchestra. The
grand prize winner this March was
By John Wilson
John Wilson
The Justine LeBaron Young Artists
Competition is named after the
late Justine LeBaron, who was a
Florida Orchestra French horn player.