2022 Spring Newsletter
¡EN ACCIÓN!
2022 Spring Newsletter
What’s happening with Yakima Music en Acción
YAMA Celebra 10 Años
A look at our past, present, and future! Join us in celebrating some reflections of growth and connection from our first 10 years en acción.
Jaiden Cano, YAMA bassist class of ‘22
“I keep coming back to YAMA because of all the memories that you get to make and the people we get to meet. Being able to play with talented people while having fun, just never gets old.”
A. S. Pualani, YAMA Co-Founder, Director of Programs and Cello Teaching Artist
“What feels special about working with Mr. P is that he always finds a song that I like and I practice it and I never cease to be amazed. With working with Mr. P I am able to help others when they need, because of the skills I acquire thanks to him.” —Delonzo Wright, YAMA cellist class of ‘25
Rachel Mendoza, YAMA violist and Assistant Teacher class of ‘23
“I grew up with YAMA, it is my second family. YAMA is a safe place where you can be yourself and express yourself with music. We learn more than music which is why I really love the saying ‘more than an orchestra’ because it’s true. We learn how to live.”
Daniela Vazquez Hernandez, YAMA cellist class of ‘22
“Looking back, I am most surprised to see how far I have come. Not just with the program but also with myself. I also never would have thought the day would come when my sisters and I would be part of the same music program and play the same instrument.”
10 Years of YAMA =
244 YAMA students
53 Guest Artists
36 Teaching Artists
15 Cities Visited
10 college visits
4,082 Total Teaching Hours
123 Zip Codes of YAMA Supporters
$2.6 Million Raised!
YAMA at 10
Brooke Creswell is known in the Yakima Valley as the Yakima Symphony Orchestra’s founder and its conductor for 40 years. In the YAMA family, he is a beloved member of the founding team. In addition to teaching double bass, chairing YAMA’s Board of Directors for several years, and supporting our music evaluation processes, Brooke continues to be a trusted advisor and mentor.
Some time in 2012, Stephanie Hsu – YAMA’s Founding Executive Director – and I were introduced to each other and tasked with the responsibility to investigate whether an El Sistema program could thrive in Yakima. I knew that El Sistema was a program that had taken hold in Venezuela where hundreds of thousands of kids from low-income families were making music all over the country, with striking musical and social results.
Yakima Music en Acción opened its doors in January 2013, with four teachers and eleven students – precisely and auspiciously the number of students Venezuela’s El Sistema began with in 1975. The number of students grew quickly. I remember a concert at the end of that first year. As I stood in the bass section, I sensed a determination and joy among these 8- to 10-year-old musicians that I had seldom experienced in my life as a “classically” trained musician. It was then that I knew that El Sistema would thrive in Yakima.
Much of traditional classical music teaching and learning is about perfection and competition. While excellence is part of the YAMA game plan, YAMA is so much more than just learning how to play a string instrument. Growing up, I had been in school music programs, taken private lessons, and studied music at an intensive level in college and university. None of that prepared me to realize through YAMA that teaching faith in yourself and respect for your instrument and your orchestral team matesmakes learning music so much more secure.
YAMA’s teachers are highly trained musicians and also well-trained in people skills. They work with each other to hone those skills, always thoughtful about how they interact with each other and with YAMA students and families. The result is children from age 8 on up who learn both directly and through modeling from their teachers, how to bring out the best in others while also learning how to play together. Through music, they are training to be the leaders of the next generation.
At a meeting ten years ago, I introduced Stephanie to others by saying about YAMA: “This will be the most important thing that’s going to happen in the history of music in Yakima.” YAMA has proved me prescient. YAMA has also proved me wrong. YAMA is so much more than just musically important: YAMA serves our entire community.
Sincerely,
Brooke Cresswell