Mission District Young Musicians Program Celebrates Ten Years

In 2006-2007, CMC began a tuition-free program that offers a comprehensive music education through the study of Latin music. It is available for youth that live or go to school in the Mission District. Ten years later, the Mission District Young Musicians Program (MDYMP) is flourishing.

To celebrate this anniversary year, alumni were invited to speak to the musicians and audience members at the MDYMP’s end-of-year concert at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts.

Martha Rodriguez-Salazar, the MDYMP Program Coordinator since its beginning, shared some of the highlights of her guests’ messages to students that day:

Chus Alonso, founder and director of the MDYMP from 2006 – 2012, was our guest of honor. He shared some reflexions about his tenure with the program and the goals it’s accomplished, thanking students, parents, teachers, CMC staff, and the Mission Cultural Center. He also played a fabulous flute solo in Almendra, a classic danzón, during the concert.

Pianist Carlos Ballesteros (2009 – 2014) talked about how formative the program was for him and remembers the teachers fondly.

Violinist Yojani Ulloa (2008 – 2014) shared how important it was for her to have a community of people with common interests. She is encouraging her young brother to apply for the program this coming year.

Guitarist Kai Lyons  (2009 – 2011) said that he went a Jazz Conservatory in the East Coast (William Paterson University) to realize that he learned more about important and complex rhythmic patterns in his neighborhood program (MDYMP).

Trumpeter Ceci Peña-Govea (2006 – 2010) said that the MDYMP gave her the tools to build a musical career. She is now teaching guitar through a CMC program at the Mission Neighborhood Center. This fall, she will also teach in CMC’s Mariachi program in partnership with the SFUSD and in the MDYMP, along with her dad, Miguel Govea.

Trumpeter Kyana Orellana (2010 – 2015) shared how much the program taught her to be disciplined and provided her with the opportunity to learn Latin music. To the current students in the program, she said: “Even when it is hard to wake up early on Saturdays, appreciate the excellent opportunity that you are being given.” After Kyana graduated, she came back to write a paper about the MDYMP. She also volunteered as an assistant for a quarter.

Violist Joshua Urrutia (2012 – 2016) said that MDYMP supported him during the difficult teenage years and said how important it was to have Chris Borg, CMC’s Executive Director, as a viola teacher and mentor. He expressed gratitude for all of the MDYMP teachers.

Nena Aldaz wasn’t able to attend but sent a message that Chris Borg read. Here are a few highlights:

“I remember auditioning for the group and being intensely nervous. I was much more shy back then. I didn’t know if I could make any friends, or if people would like my singing. But, you all provided a safe space for me to learn and grow. You all supported me and helped me to find my voice.

MDYMP was more than just a program to me. It was the stepping stone I needed to become a more skilled and open artist. It taught me about the music from Latin American countries (which, sadly, is not the case in most universities’ music programs), and it taught me about feeling the music as much as understanding it.

What I learned with MDYMP has always been immensely useful to my musical education at UC Irvine. For example, I am currently taking Latin American Music (a class that was added this year and is only for the duration of the quarter) and my professor asked if anyone knew what a clave rhythm was. My hand shot straight up. I clapped it out for him… and he was impressed!

MDYMP helped me realize that what I truly want to do is to sing and perform. Now I am a vocal arts major at UCI, and I am being trained classically. I have also been accepted to the Bel Canto Institute of San Miguel Allende, in Mexico. I am going to train there for a little over a month. Only 20 students get in each year.

None of this would have been possible without all of you.”

Our thanks to Martha Rodriguez-Salazar for her account of this inspiring moment for our MDYMP community and her invaluable leadership and commitment. Each Saturday, Martha is joined by dedicated faculty members who also perform professionally: Javier Cabanillas, Miguel Govea, Lisa Larribeau, Tregar Otton, and Jesse Wolf.

Over the years, the MDYMP has performed in high profile events in the Mission District and beyond, such as Mission Carnaval, the Mission District Cinco de Mayo Celebration, the SF International Arts Festival, La Posarela performances at the Brava and Victoria Theaters, CMC gala performances at SFJAZZ and the Fairmont Hotel San Francisco, and El Son de la Mision at the Brava Theater last year.

Look out for our MDYMP alumni and faculty performing out in the community!

CMC students pass exams with flying colors

Did you know that some CMC teachers support students with exam preparation?

CMC students can challenge themselves and measure their progress by preparing for exams such as the American String Teacher’s Association Certificate Advancement Program, the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music exams, the Royal Conservatory of Music exams, the Music Teachers’ Association of California’s Certificate of Merit program, and others.

Congratulations to the thirty CMC students below on their achievement this school year!

American String Teacher’s Association Certificate Advancement Program
Alycia Tam, violin student of Monika Gruber-Gibbons

Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music exams
Chloe Chan, flute student of Annelise Zamula, passed level 3 with distinction
Holly Lee, piano student of Paul Dab, passed level 4
Sunnie Lee, piano student of Paul Dab, passed level 5
Darren Leung, piano student of Christian Bonvin, passed level 2 with merit
Alycia Tam, violin student of Monika Gruber-Gibbons
Kelsey Wong, piano student of Christian Bonvin, passed level 1 with merit

Royal Conservatory of Music exams
Loren Gigi, piano student of Tatyana Mikhaylenko, passed level 6 with honors
Priscilla Guan, piano student of Tatyana Mikhaylenko, passed level 8
Thomas Ian, piano student of Tatyana Mikhaylenko, passed level 9
Tiffany Ian, piano student of Tatyana Mikhaylenko, passed level 7 with honors
Winston Lee, piano student of Tatyana Mikhaylenko, passed level 4 with honors
Jaden Liu, piano student of Tatyana Mikhaylenko, passed level 1
Richa Nath, piano student of Paula Dreyer, received First Class Honors in level 3 and earned the Certificate of Excellence for scoring the highest in San Francisco for her level

Music Teachers’ Association of California (MTAC) Certificate of Merit evaluations
Catherine Chen, piano student of Lilia Zheltova, completed level 2
Jonathan Chen, piano student of Lilia Zheltova, completed level 5
Emily Chen, piano student of Lilia Zheltova, completed level 7
Louise Chen, piano student of Lilia Zheltova, completed level 3 with honors
Jenna Chui, piano student of Lilia Zheltova, completed level 5
Nicole Chui, piano student of Lilia Zheltova, completed level 7 (High School Award)
Angelina Costa, piano student of Elyse Weakley, completed level 3
Luciano Costa, piano student of Elyse Weakley, completed level 1
Evelyn Guo, piano student of Lilia Zheltova, completed level 6
Brenton Lai, piano student of Lilia Zheltova, completed level 8 with honors
Victor Louie, piano student of Lilia Zheltova, completed level 3
Sammy McClanahan, piano student of Juliet McComas, received the top score of a 5+
Alex Piskov, piano student of Lilia Zheltova, completed level 6
Rebecca Portnoy, piano student of Juliet McComas, received the top score of a 5+
Brydon Zheng, piano student of Lilia Zheltova, completed level 3

Why participate in music examinations? Our faculty weigh in:

“My most motivated students choose to participate in the Royal Conservatory of Music’s Music Development Program (MDP). It is a rigorous program requiring repertoire from all four musical eras, etudes, and loads of scales, chords, arpeggios, sight reading, and ear training. Last year my student Richa Nath got the highest score in San Francisco for her Level 3 exam. I was very proud of her accomplishments! I enjoy the well rounded musical foundation that the program lays for dedicated students. In order to ensure the student is not only focusing on the exam all year, we also incorporate a fun “30 Piece Challenge.” My closest student is two pieces away from the goal! My students who participate in the MDP reach quite a high level of playing ability. I am proud of all of my students who prepare well enough to participate, as it is no small feat!”
– Paula Dreyer

“I resisted putting students in for Certificate of Merit (CM) for the longest time. It seemed like there were so many rules that I found it offputting. But when I attended the MTAC student recitals, I noticed that the ones who participated in CM were always more solid and confident in performance. So I took the plunge and the first thing I noticed when I offered this to CMC students is they were much more likely to commit from quarter to quarter, including summer. So I have very few students who drop and it’s been like that ever since. I don’t make any of my students do it but simply offer it as an opportunity. I think they like to do it because it’s like passing a grade in school and going up to the next level. I think it definitely gives them a marker of their progress and they sure like getting those high marks and that certificate!”
– Juliet McComas

Interested in exam prep?

If you are interested in exam prep at CMC, contact a registrar who can make faculty recommendations depending on your instrument and goals.

Congratulations once again to our students and their teachers – you make us proud!

Announcing CMC’s 2017-2018 Merit Scholars

Each May, a jury of CMC faculty and staff auditions students for full scholarships for the next school year’s private lessons. These awards are based on need and merit. This year we heard dozens of youths play an extraordinarily diverse repertoire. The following are the 2017-2018 Merit Scholarship recipients:

Charlotte Ackerley Memorial Scholarship
Ying Chen, violin student of Sin-Tung Chiu

Chevron Scholarship
Amy Yu, violin student of Oscar Hasbun

Bella and P.P. Chiu Memorial Scholarship Fund
Isabella Torrez, voice student of Martha Rodriguez-Salazar
Murali Meyer, voice student of Jonathan Smucker
Leo Safir, clarinet student of Michael Jordin
Alexandra Granat, flute student of Annelise Zamula

Ruth and Martin Elsner Memorial Scholarships
Megan Ma, violin student of Abigail Shiman
Qiao Ying Chen, piano student of Sarah Stiles

Gertrude Field Memorial Scholarship
Dinh Tran, flute student of Diane Grubbe

Marian N. Ford Memorial Scholarship in Strings
Olivia Chan, violin student of Sin-Tung Chiu

Tyler Guge Memorial Scholarship
Journey Moore-Prewitt, piano student of Maestro Curtis

Harold Haber Memorial Scholarship
Maritza Bautista, piano student of Evelyn Davis

Hilda Haber, Jr. Memorial Scholarship in piano
Hannah Kim, piano student of Grace Yu

Koret Scholarship
Susanna Lau, piano student of Janis Mercer

Ross McKee Memorial Scholarships in Piano
Christine Chen, student of Les McWilliams
Trinity Lee, student of Tatyana Mikhaylenko
Rosa Zhang, student of Lilia Zheltova
Laura Chen, student of Elyse Weakley
Tiffany Ian, student of Tatyana Mikhaylenko

Alice Morini Memorial Scholarship
Sophia Manodori, violin student of Tregar Otton

Maurice, Helen, and Carl Shapiro Memorial Scholarship
Sunnie Lee, piano student of Paul Dab

The Shenson Foundation Scholarship
Brenton Lai, piano student of Lilia Zheltova

Shorr Memorial Scholarship in Chamber Music
Kelly Lee, violin student of Oscar Hasbun

Gioia Taber Piano Scholarship
Kimberly Chen, piano student of Grace Yu

Mrs. Paul L. Wattis Memorial Scholarship
Amy G. Li, flute student of Annelise Zamula

Joan Wild Memorial Scholarships
Vanessa Lopez, piano student of Shirley Marshall
Devin King-Roberts, piano student of Kristine Zhang

Peter F. Ostwald, M.D. Memorial Scholarship
Lola Salomon, cello student of Ben Snellings

Reah Sadowsky Memorial Scholarship (sponsored by Women Musicians Club of SF)
Jennifer Lee, piano student of Christian Bonvin

Isabel Hesselberg Memorial Scholarship
Karen Domingo, piano student of Martha Rodriguez-Salazar

James Hunt Scholarship
Priscilla Guan, flute student of Annelise Zamula

Ruth Lasky Scholarship
Manhattan Liu, ukulele student of Erik Pearson