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YMMC Volunteers Make it Happen! A big thank you to our Youth Music Monterey County volunteers who make our program possible for our music students at all levels. Honors and Junior Youth Orchestra students, Chamber Ensembles for Brass, Strings, & Wind instruments, Orchestra in the School beginner programs, our South County Strings in elementary school music program in Soledad, and even our little YMMC office all get ongoing attention and help from our YMMC parents and friends who volunteer in so many ways; filing, shredding, painting, running a concert, and  feeding our student musicians. The retreat this past weekend is just one example of the volunteers making the event a success. The upcoming first concert on November 16th and the kick-off of the McGives campaign for donations will be an opportunity for others to join our volunteer community with some of those skills mentioned on the registration forms. The YMMC Board and staff are always grateful for your time, energy, and commitment to your student, our program, and music. Please accept our thanks and admiration for all you do. And a heartfelt thank you to Hidden Valley Music Seminars for the ongoing support of Executive Director, Peter Meckel, and the admirable staff who make so many activities possible for YMMC and our students at unique and beautiful facilities. Thanks for everything!

BBQ guests get ready for the dove release Sunday 09/09/25 at HVMS! Our 2025-2026 season was off to a fun start at the Welcome Back BBQ when we all got together for a day in the sun with good food, great friends, a potluck, and some fun. The Yanez family brought doves from Monterey Bay White Dove Release, and there was an exciting photo op moment as everyone watched these beautiful birds take flight. The day out at the Hidden Valley Music Seminars was perfect-warm and sunny with a slight breeze. The best part was just hanging out saying hello to friends and taking a moment to see how well the students have progressed on their music, welcome in a new year of exciting repertoire, and relax. Heartfelt thanks to everyone at Hidden Valley Music Seminars, but especially Peter Meckel for making it all possible with the use of these lovely grounds. Everyone helped out so much that a shout out is essential: Thank you to our grill crew and Kyle Strom who saved the day. Kudos to the set up and decor group who arrive early to make sure everything is perfect before the first guest appears. A lot of gratitude to all the folks who brought the most important items-the food! There was such a variety of everything that no one left hungry except our most fussy littlest guest. And an enormous thank you to those who finde that extra energy and stay for clean up. That was done so fast and was so thorough. Very grateful for such an amazing group of staff, friends, and students. Our Programs Director, Candis Badgley Carlson, and Music Director, Alan Truong, at the Welcome Back BBQ. Warmly, Amelia

YMMC benefits from Jazz & Desserts at Carmel Presbyterian Church.  A big thank you to Abby Warburg at Carmel Presbyterian Church for organizing such a wonderful Jazz & Desserts event last Friday night. Youth Music Monterey County was the beneficiary of the donations that evening and that arrangement is thanks to the spiritual leadership at the church and headliner, Tony Bolivar, and the musicians in the band. The evening was a delightful mix of original works and covered pieces with lively improvisation. Thank you to Tony Bolivar (his supportive family) and the other wonderful musicians, Bobby on keys, Bill on guitar, Mark on base, and Max on percussion. Tony collaborates so beautifully with musicians and trombonist, Felix Diaz Contreras, a past Youth Music Monterey County alum, who is very active in the music performance and teaching scene in the county had some great improv moments on stage. YMMC couldn't have had better spokespersons that night than Abby, Tony, and Felix. The audience that evening was very supportive with attentive listening, warm applause, and a sizable donation that evening that benefitted YMMC instrument repair and replacement and online donations. Thanks, from YMMC for a great night of music benefiting our students.

YMMC's chamber ensemble Woodwind Trio to perform on Monday, September 1st, at approximately 3-3:30pm on the stage at the Seaside City Hall (440 Harcourt Avenue, 93955). Support music at the Monterey Pops Labor Day concert with the YMMC Woodwind Trio.

Sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F45ABAA28A6F58-57844951-welcome

Youth Music Monterey County congratulates Daniel Brier, our recent Music Director, on his new position as Director of Orchestral Studies for the Scheidt School of Music at the University of Memphis. We cherish the time Maestro Brier spent with our YMMC students. Let us all join in wishing him and his family well as he takes on his new position. Daniel Fung, our former Executive Director, has left YMMC also. We appreciate the positive impacts he made on our organization and wish him well in his future endeavors. As we bid Daniel Brier and Daniel Fung farewell, we proudly welcome Alan Truong, our new Music Director. Alan Truong is a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory and holds a Masters Degree in Conducting from the Julliard School. Among his professional experiences, Alan has worked extensively with youth orchestras such as the Julliard Pre-College Orchestra, the Northern Ohio Youth Orchestras, and the Rochester Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. Alan is the first YMMC alum to take on the Music Director role. Thus, he brings a unique relationship to our young musicians. In addition, we applaud Candis Badgley Carlson for recently taking on the role of YMMC Programs Director. She originally joined the Staff in fall, 2024 as Program Assistant. Candis received her Bachelor of Music from Wichita State University and her Masters of Music from California State University Northridge. Prior to joining YMMC, she had been the Woodwinds Teaching Artist at Youth Orchestra Salinas and a faculty member, teaching clarinet and chamber music, at California State University Northridge. She fits well in her new YMMC position with a multi-faceted career as an educator, arts administrator, freelancer, and sought after chamber clarinetist. Please join us for the 2025-2026 season, which promises to be inspiring. The Junior Youth and Honors Orchestra concerts are on Sundays, 3:00 pm at Sunset Center in Carmel-by-the-Sea on November 16, 2025, March 1, 2026, and May 10, 2026. In addition, our Orchestra in the Schools program will perform concerts on Thursdays, December 11, 2025 and May 14, 2026. Place and times to be announced.  Our South County Strings students get an opportunity to perform at the end of each semester in their five elementary schools in Soledad. For further information, please go to our Website: youthmusicmonterey.org , or call the YMMC Office: 831-375-1992. Thank you for all your incredible support! Looking forward to seeing you soon! YMMC Board of Directors Acting President , Peter Meckel, Secretary ,Mari Rondeli, Acting Treasurer, Edward Gavrin, Board Members Amelia Maaske, Cynthia Schroeder, and Lisa Barca Hall.

It's time for that fun potluck event-the welcome back barbecue. All Youth Music Monterey County students registered for Junior Youth Orchestra, Honors Orchestra, Chamber Ensembles, Orchestra in the Schools, and South Country Strings and their families are invited to a barbecue potluck on Sunday, September 7, at Hidden Valley Music Seminars from 12pm to 2pm . This is a great time to meet our staff including Music Director, Alan Truong, Program Director, Candis Badgley-Carlson, have the students make new friends and see existing ones, and just have fun. The potluck sign up sheet link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F45ABAA28A6F58-57844951-welcome

Honors Orchestra Students on Wednesday, August 20th, at Monterey offices. Alan Truong, our new Music Director, will be doing placement auditions for Honors Orchestra this coming Wednesday, August 20th, between 4 and 9pm at 546 Hartnell Street, Ste.  B, Monterey 93940.    A second day is already being considered. If you missed this first placement audition date keep in touch. You should also have your m usic exerts via the Dropbox Link. The link was in the acknowledgement email sent after you requested your audition time. Any questions email or call 831-375-1992.

Sign up now for August 13 & 14 audition times!

YMMC staff at the MPUSD Back to School Bash booth. The Monterey Peninsula Unified School District held its Back to School Bash Saturday, July 26th, at Seaside High School, and Youth Music Monterey County was there. We spoke with over 140 students and families who tried out instruments with our staff members Candis and Miriam at the music instrument petting zoo. Amelia help parents sign up for Orchestra in the Schools registration and gave out information about our Junior Youth Orchestra and the audition process. Info on our concert dates & details were shared all could experience classical music share in the joy of music! Trying out the violin for the first time.

Orchestra in the Schools (OITS) is open for registration. OITS makes learning an instrument easier for families and their student.

Support HVMS our JYO & HO rehearsal sponsor. On Sunday August 3, 2025 at 3:00 pm  The Monterey County Composers' Forum will present Endless Light, a concert of new music by local composers and songwriters. Featuring Guest Artists: Laura Schwingle, soprano and Paula Monteith Haro, dancer Music by: Steve Ettinger, Alexandro Gatica, Paula Kaiser, Carleton Macy, Douglas Ovens, Julie Roseman, Ealaph Tabbaa, Dale Victorine, and Rick Yramategui