"When I was approached to audition for the Young Musicians of Minnesota's Symphony Orchestra, I assumed it would be very similar to other orchestras in my recent past. After the first rehearsal, I soon realized my presumptions were incorrect. Becoming a musician in the YMM organization extends further than just performance. We, as young musicians, have a responsibility to advocate for classical music. As our generation rockets into the future, it is up to us to bring fine arts with us. After hours of rehearsal with these talented musicians, I have no doubt we will accomplish our goal! I am sincerely at awe with what a group of 90 students can create in a mere 7 weeks. I have no words to describe the enjoyment I feel the moment my bow hits the string. As Jean Sibelius once said, "Music begins where the possibility of language ends" ~Reid G., violin
"My favorite part of YMM is that it brings together people from all walks of life. There are students that come from school districts across the Twin Cities, students from MYS and GTCYS, college students coming from schools all across the nation, and grad students too! Although we all come from such different places, YMMers are united by a love for classical music and the drive to keep it alive in Minnesota. And it's because of this bond all of us share that we've been able to bring to life some of Tchaikovsky's and Barber's most incredible works. This concert will be absolutely amazing, so don't miss it!" ~Anna S., horn
“What I love about YMM so much is the skill level of the orchestra and the repertoire that we play. YMM rehearsals every week mean everything to me, making great music with great people while continuing to improve the collective sound and skill of each person in the orchestra. The progress and individual effort of each person in our orchestra is what makes YMM as a whole sound so excellent.” ~Simon P., clarinet
"I like that the group serves a purpose of keeping music alive. I love being in YMM because I get to reconnect with some people that I don't see often and make new friends. The YMM concert is going to be GREAT! The repertoire is very challenging and YMM musicians meet the challenge head-on. It's so crazy to think that everything is organized by students! Rehearsals, fundraising, advertising, and our concert. It just shows that students and music make an impact." ~Abby S., cello
"The severity of the hit that Minnesota classical music took when the musicians of our world-class orchestra were locked out cannot be overstated. YMM was a small force then, but formed in opposition to those who would cut funding for the arts by a group of skillful young players, it had a vibrancy to it that was unlike any other music making experience I have ever had. Since then we have more than tripled in size, performed in Antonello Hall, the sidewalk on Nicollet Mall, Ted Mann, and now Orchestra Hall; we clapped our hands raw when we saw the Minnesota Orchestra return to their chairs, and when many of them joined us in concert we were nervous at first, but were all the more invigorated by their presence. You can know the scales, study the theory, understand the rep, internalize the history, lock in the fingering, feel the tempo changes, articulate the resolutions, but until you touch on all of these simultaneously with an audience and an orchestra bound by a PURPOSE, you have not yet had the full classical music experience. I hope you'll join us for an emotionally-moving event that you'll never forget." ~Evan M., cello
"There’s a quote that says you’re only as strong as your weakest link; and fortunately at YMM, I don’t believe that there is one single section or person that is weaker than the rest. We all understand at YMM that we must work collaboratively as a team; and this team, well it’s many things. The entire orchestra is a team, each individual section is a team, say you perform a duet with another musician in a piece, you two must work as a team, and so forth. Throughout the repertoire we play, we all support one another; this support system is crucial in executing these works with the highest level of musicianship. Our upcoming concert showcases a summer of dedication, a high level of artistry, and a team that is so excited to show you their love and dedication to classical music. You truly do not want to miss it!" ~Grace R., harp
"YMM is an excellent opportunity for young people to come together and explore what music means to each person individually and for the collective to experience making music together. The unique chance to collaborate with other passionate, driven young musicians in a high-quality, professional atmosphere is not to be undervalued. I think I speak for all of us in the ensemble when I say that YMM is an organization which truly speaks to the heart of why we do what we do--to enjoy making beautiful music alongside our friends." ~Naomi B., trombone
"The people I have been able to play with have all really impressed me with their talent and musical abilities. The rehearsals are well organized and the Minnesota Orchestra sectional provided us with an outside perspective and really helped us blend together and listen to one another. Music is such an important part of my life and being able to share it with the community is one of the reasons I play violin. YMM has given me a great opportunity to work with people of a variety of ages and I am very grateful to have the opportunity to play with such a skilled group of people. This concert is full of really wonderful music, I hope to see you there!" ~Izzy C., violin
"YMM has been one of the most rewarding musical experiences I have ever had. It is so inspiring to see young people come together to create beautiful music! I have been a part of YMM since it's very first year and I feel honored to have seen the orchestra grow and thrive. My favorite part of the YMM experience, is when YMM is joined by members of the Minnesota Orchestra! This is even more meaningful when you think about how YMM was started to support the Minnesota Orchestra musicians during the lockout. It is so amazing to play next to our role-models and heros. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to play alongside such inspirational students!" ~Tasha M., violin
"The opportunity to play in the YMM orchestra this summer has been a wonderful experience. I was looking for a way to continue with my music this summer and YMM has been the perfect place. As part of YMM's mission is to encourage the continuing of classical music in Minnesota, you can definitely tell that many students are still driven to excel in classical music: you can just feel it during rehearsals! I am excited to be part of showcasing what the orchestra has been working on this summer at our upcoming concert!" ~Mariah B., viola
"I am so glad I was given the opportunity to be in YMM this summer. It's been so inspiring to be surrounded by such talented musicians who have the same passion I do, and having this time every week to be with my peers, making music the way we do, has really motivated me to become a better musician myself. Our conductor Aaron Hirsch has also been a huge pleasure to work with and learn from! Our concert on August 2nd at Orchestra Hall will be something you will not want miss, because I know you will also leave inspired by the talent all of these young musicians have!" ~Lexie G., percussion
"YMM is an incredible organization driven by young people with a great passion for creating beautiful music. We play to challenge ourselves and to continue to develop our skills as musicians. Most of all, I believe that we play to give back to the community and to thank our teachers, families, and friends by creating music that is infused with the energy and spirit of young musicians. Swing by Orchestra Hall next weekend!" ~Abbie T., violin
"To me, YMM is a great opportunity to learn amazing and challenging repertoire, especially pieces by Tchaikovsky! Because of the varied dynamics and musical challenge, I am eager to practice each day, and I look forward to each rehearsal. Also, the chance to work with amazing Minnesota Orchestra musicians adds to the fun. I am very excited to play the concert with them. I am glad to say that YMM Orchestra is a part of my musical journey." ~Sam K., violin
"I have had such a good experience with YMM this summer! I'm incredibly excited about the music we'll be performing in our upcoming concert. Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 is my very favorite symphony - performing a portion at a summer camp was one of the most important and influential experiences in my decision to continue to study music in college. The entire symphony is just so heartbreakingly emotional, it's hard to not be moved by it in some way. Tchaikovsky's Capriccio Italien is so much fun to play, especially with a group of musicians as talented as those in YMM. The program is so full of exciting music, I can't wait for our audience to hear it!" ~Bailey H., oboe
"I've been apart of YMM since the first year when it was called the Riverside Chamber Orchestra and being there from the beginning, YMM has had tremendous positive changes and has come from just a fun way to spend a Saturday or Sunday to an afternoon of dedicated learning and rehearsing top notch repertoire. After having the first every YMM concert in a little sanctuary, and I cannot believe this year’s concert will be held in Orchestra Hall. This year’s finale concert will be the product of the best YMM Festival Orchestra I have ever experienced. Coming into this year I told myself not to get too high of expectations because the repertoire was tough, but students of the YMM Festival never cease to amaze me. There’s been huge progress from Week 1 to now so I hope you can join us and cherish the hard work and the beautiful music together!" ~Keeheon N., clarinet
"It's inevitable as a violist that in every ensemble, sooner or later you're going to hear a viola joke. My fellow YMM violists are able to make and take viola jokes, and then turn around to crank out some amazing music. It's empowering to play in a group with young people who take a lot of pride in their music and instrument, and my experience playing with YMM has been just that. Not only is this ensemble talented, dedicated, and professional, we're also able to have fun and laugh together. I'm proud to be a part of YMM and I cannot wait to share our music with everyone at my favorite place to play!" ~Zoe M., viola
"YMM enables my participation in high-level performance at a time where such opportunities aren’t readily accessible. I love making music, but I’m also invested in other aspects of my life; this summer I’ve spent hours teaching at a college access program called Breakthrough Collaborative. Amidst my busy schedule, I was concerned I may not be able to work with my instrument at all this summer let alone engage with such a skilled ensemble. Beyond performance, YMM allows me connect with likeminded musicians. The trumpet section has a bunch of great guys who I enjoy spending time with every weekend. These types of connections are important to me personally, and on a macro scale important to the health and future of classical music. All in all, YMM has been a wonderful musical experience that has enriched my summer." ~David P., trumpet
"Being in YMM has been a truly enriching experience. I have had the opportunity to play and learn from musicians that have been were I am right now, and I am able to share that knowledge with younger musicians striving towards their goals. YMM has been a school years worth of advice and mentoring stacked in to 3 months of fun filled musical adventures. Our upcoming concert showcases all the talent that we have in our organization, and also all the knowledge we have gained. Most of all though, I hope you come to see the smiles on the musicians faces, and to hear the beauty that we have been so graciously allowed to make." ~Jacob H., tuba
"What I like about YMM is it brings a big group of people of different ages and musical backgrounds for a single purpose. It provides the opportunity to play great repertoire at a high level with very talented people. Classical music has a lot of meaning for me and I love that YMM makes part of its mission to keep it alive and show the world it's not a dying art. I think both classical music veterans and those new to the world of classical music would really enjoy the upcoming concert, it's sure to be a great performance!" ~Matthew M., cello
"I originally joined YMM because I wanted the experience of playing in an advanced youth orchestra like GTCYS or MYS, but I didn't have the time during the school year to do so. YMM offers a way to play amazing music with other great young musicians without a huge time commitment or tuition cost. I also like our rehearsal schedule. As a student from outside the metro area, the summer rehearsal schedule makes the orchestra much more accessible. I don't have this kind of high-level youth orchestra available where I live, so YMM is a great opportunity play more challenging music with more advanced musicians." ~Henry B., cello
"I love YMM because everyone is so passionate about what they do. I love coming to rehearsal every week and being inspired by the musicians sitting to the left, right, and front of me. Making music with YMM has been one of the greatest musical experiences of my life." ~Emily I., horn
"YMM's message of keeping classical music alive through times of hardship and inspiring the younger generation is one that I relate to and believe in on a very personal level, and I think it's extremely important that this message continues to thrive in our society today. To me, YMM means the survival of this message - bringing an opportunity to connect with a group of equally passionate people of all backgrounds through music over the summer, when chances to play in an orchestra have usually been rather limited. Our upcoming concert of some of the most beautiful, exciting pieces of music ever written is going to be an experience not to be missed!" ~Alicia Z., violin
"I have had the honor to play in YMM for all three Summer Music Festivals, and each year I am more thrilled to play in it than the last. It is so much fun to make great music with such highly motivated students. The recordings of our concerts always blow me away, and I can't wait to hear what this year's performance will sound like in Orchestra Hall. YMM is unique in that it is completely run and organized by students. The amount of work put into the planning, fundraising, and music-making is completely worth it when we play together!" ~Grant J., violin