The San Luis Obispo Youth Symphony, in its 52nd year in the community and through its Music Education programs, has grown significantly this season. Enriching and inspiring the lives of its participants, the Youth Symphony has 200 active members in five different programs, the most at any one time in the history of the group, and its Strings in Schools program currently has 83 third through sixth grade students engaged in after-school group string instruction. The programs are in good hands with recently hired Music Education Director Mi Young Shin, and continuing Youth Symphony Manager Brett Malta.
The Youth Symphony sold out its first concert in December 2015, entertaining 600 audience members. It has two remaining season concerts at the Christopher Cohan Performing Arts Center on Saturday, February 28 and Saturday, May 15 at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $5 for students, and can be purchased at SLOSymphony.org. The Youth Symphony Concert Orchestra will also embark on a summer tour of Alaska in June to collaborate with students from Anchorage and Kenai.
“We’re extremely excited about the growth and direction of the Youth Symphony and Strings in the Schools programs,” San Luis Obispo General Manager, Francie Levy said. “We will continue to bring our mission to the community and engage in bringing high-quality orchestra and ensemble education and performance opportunities for local youth. Music education and appreciation is so important to a child’s growth.”
Mi Young Shin began her musical journey after hearing a solo performance of Kyung-wha Chung on national television. She knew instantly that she wanted to be a violinist. From that initial inspirational moment, she started her learning by way of an elementary school music program. Many individuals played a crucial role in her journey of success, from her teachers to her mother to the many orchestra parents behind the scenes. She took their dedication and now passes the gift of music and the love of learning through her position as Music Education Director with the Symphony. In a short time, Mi Young has strengthened programs by adding new schools to Strings in the Schools, and by providing tangible support to the Youth Symphony conductors and SIS teachers through clinics and training opportunities.
Brett Malta began his musical studies at age five with piano and then began learning brass instruments when he started band in sixth grade. He eventually settled on tenor and bass trombones at the end of high school. Malta studied music and graduated from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo in 2014, with his primary teachers being Sonny Galvan and Roy Main. He manages the operations of the Youth Symphony and the Music Van that reach out to local schools. Brett is a local freelance low brass player and plays sousaphone in Brass Mash, a New Orleans style brass band.
To accommodate the various levels of musical experience, the Youth Symphony is comprised of five ensembles with students in third through 12th grade. Super Bows! is a program designed for students who have completed one year of the Strings in the Schools program or private lessons. Preparatory Strings is a string orchestra experience for musicians who have played two years or more. Symphonic Winds is an ensemble of intermediate and advanced woodwind, brass and percussion musicians. Academy Strings Orchestra is made up of intermediate students with three or more years of violin, viola, cello or bass. The Concert Orchestra includes talented students from the seventh to 12th grade. They are the most advanced string, woodwind, brass and percussion players.
Additional programs offered in musical education by the Symphony include:
Musical Petting Zoo: the instruments are the animals. Trombones, trumpets, violins and more are available for curious hands to be played. The Petting Zoo is available at community events around the county.
The Music Van: brings musical adventures to third and fourth grade classrooms throughout SLO County. Children learn about sound and how the size and shape of an instrument changes that sound. They are also encouraged to play the instruments.
Strings in the Schools: provides after-school string instruction with a member of the SLO Symphony and is open to all third through sixth grade students county-wide.
Everyday Etudes: provides children with a classical music education instruction that includes music-listening curriculum with the existing Symphony programs.
No Ties Allowed Open Dress Rehearsal: prior to Classics in the Cohan concert night, No Ties provides a casual, open afternoon dress rehearsal performance for the community at a discount price.
Symphonic Forays: provides adult education with a pre-concert lecture series prior to the Classics in the Cohan performances. The informative and enjoyable discussions are led by Dr. Craig Russell at 7 p.m. in Harman Hall.