South County Strings Call (831) 375-1992 for Registration Information Youth Music Monterey's South County Strings program brings free instruction and string instruments to students in grades 3-8 in southern Monterey County. A team of music instructors provides violin, viola, and cello instruction in group lessons during the school day. Students are not charged for the lessons and instruments are provided by YMMC. Music classes begin in September and run throughout the school year through June. The program is designed to introduce new students to music and string instruments and to help intermediate students develop their skills. Students receive a minimum of two hours of instruction per week, give in-school and after-school performances for their peers, and perform at community venues. Students also receive free or subsidized tickets to concerts throughout Monterey County and attend workshops with visiting musicians—such as the YMMC Chamber Players, who visit the schools to perform for and work with young string students. Youth Music Monterey's South County Strings program is a partnership with the Soledad Unified School District and Bradley Union School District to provide students to study cello, viola, and violin in areas where music education and performance opportunities are sparse.

Alyze Rabideau South County Strings Director Alyze Rabideau received a Bachelors of Music Degree in Music Composition from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. During her time at the Blair School of Music, she studied violin with Jessica Blackwell, percussion with Ji-Hye Jung and Kwame Ahima, and composition with Michael Slayton and Michael Alec Rose. Alyze has also worked with distinguished composers including Joan Tower, Jack Stamp, Elliot Schwartz, and Elizabeth Austin. Her music has been performed throughout the United States as well as in Austria, Italy, France, Nepal, Kenya, and Spain. Prior to her current role as the South County Strings Director with Youth Music Monterey, Alyze taught English in Benin, West Africa as a member of the United States Peace Corps. In addition to teaching in the classroom, she created after school music clubs at multiple schools and a national summer camp for English and gender equality, Camp SPEAK. Before her move to Benin, Alyze worked at the W.O. Smith Music School, where she taught private lessons on violin, percussion, and saxophone and was the conductor for the StringSmiths String Orchestra. She also served as concertmaster for the W. O. Smith Faculty Orchestra. Currently, Alyze teaches violin and music theory at Monterey County Home Charter School. She enjoys cooking, hiking, and playing music with her four siblings, all of whom are string musicians. Back to Staff

Administrative Staff Candis Badgley Carlson Executive Director Clarinetist Candis Badgley Carlson enjoys a multifaceted career as a sought-after chamber musician, educator, freelancer, and arts administrator. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director at Youth Music Monterey County. Previously, she has been the Woodwinds Teaching Artist with Youth Orchestra Salinas as well as a faculty member at California State University Northridge, teaching clarinet and chamber music. In demand as a chamber musician, Candis has performed with numerous chamber groups, including the LA Chamber Music Company, the Felici Trio, N’Cinq Woodwind Quintet, Exploration Music Project, CSUN ChamberFest, and most recently with the Monterey County Pops Woodwind Quintet. Ms. Badgley Carlson also founded Valley Chamber Ensembles, a Los Angeles-based non-profit that strives to enrich the community by providing an experience and an education through chamber music. Through four seasons, she programmed several unique concerts and became a grantee of the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture. An active orchestral musician, Ms. Badgley Carlson has performed with several orchestras including OperaSLO, Mission Opera, Lompoc Pops Orchestra, Ventura Symphony Orchestra, Sierra Nevada Pops Orchestra, Valencia Philharmonic, Moorpark Ballet Company, Monterey County Pops, and I Cantori di Carmel. She performed as a soloist with the CSUN Symphony Orchestra as a winner of the 2016 Concerto Competition. Additionally, Candis has recorded for motion pictures, several short films, and can be heard on the Marks Record recording “Music from the Heart from the Heartland.” Additional experience includes recording for the BMI program Uni Music Mentors with Emmy-nominated composers Cindy O’Connor, Rebecca Kneubuhl, and Tony Morales. Most recently she can be heard on bass clarinet on the motion picture soundtrack SICK. Ms. Badgley Carlson received her Bachelor of Music from Wichita State University under Dr. Suzanne Tirk and her Master of Music from California State University Northridge under Dr. Julia Heinen. Back to Staff

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Taking Notes... Terribly sorry, this page is still under construction. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the office at (831) 375-1992 or at office@youthmusicmonterey.org. In the meantime, feel free to explore the rest of the site! Back to Musicians

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Tuition Junior Youth and Honors Orchestra Payments Full tuition $1400 3 month payment plan, $467/month 10 month payment plan, $140/month Orchestra In the Schools Payment One time payment $675 Tuition and lesson assistance are available to families who demonstrate need. Financial Assistance Information Tuition Assistance Form

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Audition Requirements Audition Requirements and Expectations AUDITION DATES FOR THE 2026-2027 SEASON: Tuesday, May 12th and Wednesday, May 13th, 2026 Auditions will be held at the YMM Office: 546 Hartnell St., Suite B in Monterey For any questions, please call us at (831) 375-1992 or email us at office@youthmusicmonterey.org . The YMM Office is located at : 546 Hartnell St., Suite B, Monterey YMM Rehearses every Wednesday at Hidden Valley Music Seminars 104 W. Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley JYO 4:30-6:00 pm | HO 6:30-8:30 pm Ready to Audition? Click the button below to request an audition time Audition Form Audition Requirements for Woodwinds & Brass Junior Youth Orchestra - Be prepared to play one-octave major scales in the concert keys of G, D, F, & Bb major in quarter notes at 80 mm per quarter note - Play a piece under 2 minutes in length which demonstrates your current level of study. This can be school sheet music, an etude, or a solo. - Demonstrate basic skills through a brief sight-reading passage Honors Orchestra - Be prepared to play one-octave major scales in the concert keys of C, G, D, F, Bb, & Eb, in slow eighth notes (quarter note at 80mm), two octaves wherever possible - Play the chromatic scale that shows your current range on the instrument in quarter notes at 80 mm per quarter or faster - Demonstrate knowledge of dynamics, phrasing, rhythm, accuracy, and good pitch through the playing of two prepared selections, 1-2 minutes each and of contrasting styles - Demonstrate good sight-reading skills in a passage of orchestral literature Audition Requirements for Percussion Junior Youth Orchestra -Demonstrate ability to play quarter, 8th, & 16th notes in time, by yourself and with a metronome,on the snare drum between 80-100 mm per quarter. -Demonstrate basic rudiments such as flams, drags, & double stroke open-roll rudiments -Demonstrate ability to play a mallet instrument (treble clef) or timpani (bass clef) using school sheet music or a solo/etude piece one minute in length -Demonstrate sight reading ability and rudiments on the snare and either on mallets or timpani on orchestral passages Honors Orchestra -Demonstrate ability to play quarter, 8th, & 16th notes in time, by yourself and with a metronome, on the snare drum, between 80-100 mm per quarter. Demonstrate basic rudiments such as flams, drags, & double stroke open roll rudiments. -Demonstrate ability to play a mallet instrument (treble clef) or timpani (bass clef) using school sheet music or a solo/etude piece one minute in length. -Demonstrate sight reading ability and rudiments on the snare drum and either on mallets or timpani on orchestral passages -All percussion equipment will be provided but you should bring your own drumsticks. Bell & timpani mallets will be provided Audition Requirements for Strings Junior Youth Orchestra JYO First Violin - Play 2-octave scales in G, D, A, C, & Bb major Ability to play in 3rd position & playing at the level of Suzuki books 4-5 or equivalent - Demonstrate a variety of bowing skills on the string as well as a “brush bounce stroke” - Play a piece under 2 minutes in length which demonstrates current level of study - Have an understanding and some experience playing vibrato - Demonstrate sight-reading ability which may include the above-mentioned skills JYO Second Violin - Play 2-octave scales in G, A, C, & Bb major - Able to play in 1st position keys of G, D, C, & F major - 1 to 1-1/2 years of experience and at the Suzuki level 2-3 or equivalent - Play a piece under 2 minutes in length which demonstrates current level of study - Demonstrate sight-reading skills with a variety of simple rhythms in 1st position JYO Viola - Play 1-octave scales in C, D, & G major (2 octaves in C major preferred) - 1 to 1-1/2 years of experience and at the Suzuki level 2-4 or equivalent - Play a piece under 2 minutes in length which demonstrates current level of study - Demonstrate basic skills through short sight-reading selection JYO Cello - Play scales in 1 or 2 octaves in the key of C, D, G, & A - Demonstrate ability to play in 1st & 4th position - Playing for at least 2 years - Play a piece under 2 minutes in length which demonstrates current level of study - Demonstrate basic skills through short sight-reading selection JYO Bass - 1-octave scales in G, D, C, & F major - Solo selection which demonstrates intermediate level performance - Demonstrate basic skills through short sight-reading selection Audition Requirements for Strings Honors Orchestra Honors First Violin - 3-octave scales & arpeggios in C, G, D, A, E, F, Bb, & Eb major Fluent in position work & at the level of Suzuki Book 7 or above or equivalent - Demonstrate mature vibrato - Play well in tune in a variety of keys and bowing styles, demonstrating high level of musicianship, intonation, phrasing,& dynamic contrasts - Play a piece under 2 minutes in length which demonstrates current level of study - Demonstrate the ability to sight read standard orchestra repertoire Honors Second Violin - 3-octave scales in C, G, D, A, F, & Bb major - Fluent in 1st, 3rd, & 5th positions - Have a developed vibrato - Demonstrate controlled spiccato and ability to play with a variety of bowing styles - Play well in tune and demonstrate knowledge of dynamics and varied rhythms - Play a piece under 2 minutes in length which demonstrates current level of study - Demonstrate sight reading skills at level of Honors Orchestra Honors Viola - 3-octave C major scale, 2 octave scales in D, G, A, f, & Bb major Demonstrate sight reading skills - Playing at level of Suzuki book 5 or higher or equivalent - Play a piece under 2 minutes in length which demonstrates current level of study Honors Cello - 2-octave scales in C, D, G, A, F & Bb major - Demonstrate advanced playing ability, musicianship, intonation, dynamics & phrasing - Able to play octave harmonic thumb position (8th) - Demonstrate skill in performing a variety of bowing styles, both on & off the string - Play a piece under 2 minutes in length which demonstrates current level of study - Demonstrate sight reading skills at level of Honors Orchestra Honors Bass - 2-octave scales in C, G, D, A, F, & Bb major - Perform 2 short selections of different styles at high school level or higher - Demonstrate a variety of position work, tempi, dynamic contrasts - Demonstrate a variety of bowing styles, both on & off the string - Demonstrate sight reading skills at level of Honors Orchestra

Junior Youth and Honors Orchestras Info Register South County Strings Info Orchestra In The Schools Info Register

Join a community devoted to building the next generation through music! The Angel Network serves student musicians from over 30 schools spanning from Salinas and South County to the Monterey Peninsula. Each year, up to 300 students learn to collaborate and gain confidence while improving their instrumental playing skills. Angels make it possible for YMMC to accept all qualified students regardless of their ability to pay. Covering about a third of the cost of instruction for YMMC students, the Angel Network keeps tuition affordable by bridging the gap between student fees and the cost of the program. With your annual contribution, you help ensure students can experience the powerful instruction provided in the Junior Youth and Honors Orchestras, Chamber Ensembles, and South County Strings. For more detailed benefits, see the different tiers of the Angel Network. Getting involved allows you to see, up close, the opportunities your donation provides. On becoming a member, you receive a hand-crafted sterling silver pin. Wearing it shows your special connection to the musicians of Youth Music Monterey County. Project Name To connect this element to content from your collection, select the element and click Connect to Data. Read More Project Name To connect this element to content from your collection, select the element and click Connect to Data. Read More Browse More Ways to Give Angel $500 annual donation you'll receive Handcrafted Angel Network pins Listing in concert programs Two Dress Circle Tickets to Sunset Center orchestral performances annually Invitations to after Sunset Center concert receptions Invitations to the Annual Angel Appreciation Event Archangel $1,000 annual donation you will receive Angel benefits plus Video recordings of Sunset Center concert performances upon request Archangel Bronze $2,500 annual donation you will receive Archangel benefits plus Reserved Seating at all Sunset Center concerts upon request Archangel Silver $5,000 annual donation you will receive Archangel Bronze benefits plus 10 complimentary guest tickets annually upon request Solo/Duet Student Performance if requested* Archangel Gold $10,000 annual donation you will receive Archangel Bronze benefits plus 10 complimentary guest tickets annually upon request Chamber Student Performance if requested* Thank you for your interest in the Youth Music Monterey County Angel Network! We hope you will consider becoming a part of our special family of benefactors. Your support ensures the availability of an unparalleled music education program in our community! Become an Angel Today! Browse More Ways to Give Archangel Platinum $25,000 + annual donation you will receive Archangel Gold benefits plus: Opportunity to attend a private event with Music Director, Artistic Staff, & Board *Schedule to be determined by student availability