Yamaha Young Musicians Concert Met with Accolades
LA MIRADA, Calif. More than 400 audience members were captivated as 12 Yamaha Music School (YMS) students from the U.S. and Canada performed their original compositions at the Yamaha Young Musicians Concert. The concert took place at Biola University in La Mirada, California on July 28.
The student musicians were selected from hundreds of applicants, ranging in age from six to 16 years old, who submitted taped video performances of their original pieces. The concert included Max Bergmanis from Hawaii YMS, Evan DeFrancesco from Keyboard Music Works (Mich.), Isaac Quinones from Heid Music (Wis.), Amy Zhang from A1 YMS (Calif.), Emily Tu from Bergen YMS (N.J.), Alex Pham from Cerritos YMS (Calif.), Patrick McClure from Fredericksburg YMS (Va.), Anna Han from East Valley YMS (Ariz.), Nathalin Moy from Yamaha Canada and Danica Silan, Phillip Matsuura and Andrea Kim from Irvine YMS (Calif.).
"The energy and enthusiasm exhibited by students and teachers at the Camp and Concert was inspiring," said Mike Morrell, Yamaha Music Education Systems (YMES) Manager. "The outstanding performances of the students reaffirmed the strength of the Yamaha method and the high quality musical education received by students in the Yamaha Music Education System."
The concert was the culmination of the Yamaha Music Camp held on the Biola campus during the previous week. The camp was open to all Yamaha Music School students and teachers, offering a series of workshops and seminars. Showcasing an impressive faculty that included Joseph Lawson, Michael Hall, Gina Alm, Richard Grayson, M.B. Gordy and Manami Kawamura, the music camp, much like the concert, was met with great success. More than 100 teachers, students and staff attended the clinics.
"The aim of Yamaha Music School activities in the U.S. and around the world is to promote an appreciation of the value of music to our culture and to foster life long active music participation by individuals everywhere," said Morrell. "The music camp, the Young Musicians Concert and other such YMES activities have proven to be very effective tools for accomplishing this objective."
The Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) enables children all over the world to study under one Yamaha music method, using the same textbooks and following the same curriculum, ultimately promoting a new international musical generation. The program is geared toward enabling students to express themselves through musical composition and offers five different music courses for children. Most classes are held weekly, covering everything from listening skills to keyboard performance. Private lessons are offered as well. Five million students have graduated, including many professional musicians, since its inception 50 years ago.
 Students, teachers and staff at the Yamaha Young Musicians Camp preceding the concert. |
"The energy and enthusiasm exhibited by students and teachers at the Camp and Concert was inspiring," said Mike Morrell, Yamaha Music Education Systems (YMES) Manager. "The outstanding performances of the students reaffirmed the strength of the Yamaha method and the high quality musical education received by students in the Yamaha Music Education System."
Eight-year-old Isaac Quinones performing his original composition, "Where is DuPont Circle," at the Yamaha Young Musicians Concert. |
"The aim of Yamaha Music School activities in the U.S. and around the world is to promote an appreciation of the value of music to our culture and to foster life long active music participation by individuals everywhere," said Morrell. "The music camp, the Young Musicians Concert and other such YMES activities have proven to be very effective tools for accomplishing this objective."
The Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) enables children all over the world to study under one Yamaha music method, using the same textbooks and following the same curriculum, ultimately promoting a new international musical generation. The program is geared toward enabling students to express themselves through musical composition and offers five different music courses for children. Most classes are held weekly, covering everything from listening skills to keyboard performance. Private lessons are offered as well. Five million students have graduated, including many professional musicians, since its inception 50 years ago.