Peoria-Area Community Impact Guide 2022-2023

YOUTH MUSIC ILLINOIS Youth Music Illinois mentors area youth to develop skills for both music and life through the power of live performance.

3601 N. Sheridan Road Peoria, Illinois, 61604 Email: ExecDir@YouthMusicIllinois.org Website : YouthMusicIllinois.org Facebook : @YouthMusicIllinois KEY STAFF: Lidia Riley, Executive Director Laura Otto, Suzuki School Director David Commanday, Music Director BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Jay Wright, President Taunya Jenkins, Vice President

Lance Rogers, Secretary Marisa Gould, Treasurer John Bontjes Jason Shea

Jennifer Walker Brittney Jones Jeff Pulfer Bill Toovey Melody Tisdale

VISION Youth Music Illinois enriches and unites our community by fostering a lifelong appreciation of the arts. WHAT WE DO EDUCATE: The students of Youth Music Illinois (YMI) range from age four to age eighteen, and play a wide range of styles. On any given week of rehearsal you could hear Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star , the works of John Williams, Beethoven, Ellington and everything in between. Our caring, talented staff are accomplishedmusicians, composers, and conductors that play all over Central Illinois. INSPIRE: For over 55 years, YMI has been giving students a challenging extracurricular music activity. Our stair-stepped approach gives all students goals as they pursue their musical career. All students get to work with symphony musicians and other leaders in the musical community at least once a semester with special, section focused rehearsals.

LEAD: Students in our ensembles go on to become business leaders, doctors and teachers. Some have gone on to play inmajor national symphonies. Still others come back and teach for us – half of our staff once played in one of our ensembles. The benefits of music education cannot be overstated, and students that graduate from our program are shining examples of what music can do in a child’s life. ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP Music Director David Commanday heads our artistic staff, comprised of David Getz, Angela Englishharden, Laura Otto, Peggy Bonner and Jeff Arbisi. Each directs one to two of the seven ensembles that YMI offers. Not only does Laura Otto direct one of our ensembles, but she is also the director of our Suzuki School of Music. She, Molly Wilson-Nogaj, Courtney Silver and Sarah Hansen teach private and group string lessons at the Life Together Center in Peoria, at Peoria Academy as part of their after-school program and at the Montessori School of Peoria.

HOW TO HELP DONATE:

YouthMusic Illinois (then theCentral Illinois Youth Symphony) was founded in 1965 by a group of music educators dedicated to showcasing the best student musicians in Central Illinois. What began as a high school ensemble has grown to include two string orchestras, two full orchestras, two jazz ensembles, a percussion ensemble and a Suzuki School of Music. Donations can be made by sending a check or by visiting our website: youthmusicillinois.org. Your donation is tax deductible. REGISTER: Join our ensembles or Suzuki School by registering at youthmusicillinois.org.

112

peoriamagazine.com