Published November 5, 2024
BY ABBY COE
By creating a communal experience that extends beyond the rehearsal hall and into the community, the Youth Music Monterey County program empowers the next generation of instrumentalists.
YMMC provides approximately 100 children from elementary school to high school the opportunity to better understand how music is performed. Their aim is to instill excellence, determination and responsibility among peer collaboration.
Members of the Honors Orchestra warm up before rehearsal at Monterey High School. (photo by ABBY COE)
“You have to learn how to manage and interact with your peers,” says Dr. Daniel Fung, the executive director of YMMC.
Fung compares collaborating with fellow instrumentalists at YMMC to partnering with co-workers in a prospective career. The opportunity for leadership positions is also apparent and provides students with a multitude of “soft skills” such as punctuality and time management.
“Every week you [play] with the same people, and you get to know them a lot better,” explains sophomore Emily Kim, a seven-year YMMC member.
Kim admires how YMMC integrates longer weekly practices that not only allow students time to learn the music thoroughly, but to adapt to the conductor’s style and how they interact with the ensemble.
Sophomore Ruby Iranmanesh warms up before the Honors Orchestra rehearsal begins. (photo by JEANE KIM)
“I want to have as wide a range of music as possible that I expose young people to so that they can learn music from all different time periods and styles and even genres,” says Daniel Brier, the music director and conductor for YMMC. “The choices of music are really geared towards the student experience. What’s going to help them grow, what’s going to be fun and engaging to play, what’s maybe going to expand their horizons.”
Among the two orchestras, a chamber music program, brass ensemble and woodwind ensemble, there is a wide variance in ages and musical ability.
“It feels more like an emotional connection to the people who I’m playing with,” adds freshman Griffin Steely, who explains how he began playing violin in Orchestra in the Schools, a program for beginner musicians that is now part of YMMC, and has since moved to the Honors Orchestra.
Members of the Junior Youth Orchestra practice their music for the October concert. (photo by ABBY COE)
“YMM definitely challenged me musically to better my playing since we play a lot of challenging pieces,” says senior Kylie Wright, who explains that YMMC has not only encouraged her to pursue orchestral programs through college, but has widened her perspective on the musical community. “It’s nice to interact with people you wouldn’t normally have the chance to do so with.”
Fung notes the benefits of musical education by explaining his passion for the arts.
“[Playing music] challenges me in almost every single way… mentally, physically, spiritually,” explains Fung. “[I love] having the ability to share all that you love about music, what you love about the composer, what you love to the audience.”
Fung’s aim with YMMC is to share music with the community in a way that provides confidence and a sense of accomplishment for the musicians.
“There’s all of these elements that music can be applied to our lives and to me that’s really exciting,” says Brier.
Conductor Daniel Brier (right) instructs the Honors Orchestra trombonist. (photo by ABBY COE)
Brier explains how YMMC aims to help young musicians achieve their musical goals. He describes music as being a common goal for YMMC participants and how music can bring people from the community together. “It’s my goal to help young musicians achieve their musical goals but also grow as people, as humans [and] as colleagues.”
YMMC is committed to inclusion, aware that they are not only educating musicians, but the next generation. They believe that music should be available to all students, regardless of ethnic, cultural or financial considerations.
“We believe in music education, and we believe in everyone having access,” says Fung.
As executive director, Dr. Fung’s goal is to make the accessibility of YMMC prominent by promoting financial aid and partnering with different schools on the Monterey Peninsula.
