Unlike YMF's other programs that assist young
musicians who are already advanced in their playing abilities,
the Mentor Artists Program specifically
targets underserved and low-income elementary and middle school
students who receive little or no music instruction. There is
a wide variety of types and levels of mentorship at each of the
27 schools participating in the program.
YMF firmly believes that music education is a crucial part of
a child's academic development, and also an integral part of the
arts and culture which identify and unify a community. YMF's Youth
Mentor Artists Program comes full circle by bringing some of the
most talented emerging musicians together with children who are
just beginning to study music.
Students from YMF's Mentor Artists Program recently appeared in an episode of the Disney Channel's The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.
Mentor Artists are selected from the YMF Debut Orchestra as well as top young professional musicians in the Los Angeles area. Additional students are recruited
from top universities in the area. Current Mentor Artists have performed on film/tv recordings including Superman Returns, Dreamgirls, American Idol, and Battlestar Galactica, as well as with
recording artists including Michael Bublé, Kanye West, and Clay Aiken. Mentor Artists receive training in providing the highest quality music education, as well as in areas including: Mentoring, Positive Youth Development, and Asset Building.
2007-08 Mentor Artists
Eric Anderson, Music Director - YMF Youth Orchestra, Lead Mentor
Mieko Hatano, YMF Outreach Programs Coordinator, Lead Mentor - Brass
Robert Anderson, Lead Mentor - Cello
Jonathan Beard, Cello
Jonathan Camacho, Flute
Melissa Garner, Clarinet
Ikumo Hidehito, Guitar
Andrew Leonard, Clarinet
Karolina Naziemiec, Violin/Viola
Joy Peyton-Stevens, Cello
Ray Reinebach, Violin
A.J. Stancil, Flute
Lindsay Strand-Polyak, Violin
Amy Tatum, Flute
Mentor Artists provide weekly private tutoring, group sectional work, and music appreciation assemblies for entire student bodies. Most classes occur after-school, with class size ranging from 5 - 12 students. Instruction is offered on the following instruments:
FLUTE, CLARINET, TRUMPET, TROMBONE, VIOLIN, CELLO, PERCUSSION, GUITAR.
Students perform regularly throughout the school year and have the opportunity to audition for scholarships from the LACESMA fund and the YMF Scholarship Fund for Diversity.
