Our Story
In 1965, a small group of music educators in Central Illinois gathered to discuss plans for an organization to serve musically talented youth and their communities. J. Elmer Szepessy (Peoria High School Orchestra Director) and Patricia Hackler (Pekin Suzuki Program founder) began developing a performing arts organization intent on showcasing the best of area high school musicians. With support from Peoria Public Schools, Bradley University, University of Illinois, the American String Teachers Association, and dedicated volunteers, Central Illinois Youth Symphony held its first auditions in 1965 and debut concerts in 1966.
Realizing the enthusiasm young musicians showed for Youth Symphony, the organization expanded with the establishment of the Concert Orchestra in 1970. Expansion continued with the Preparatory Orchestra in 1995, the Percussion Ensemble in 1997, the Sr. Jazz Orchestra in 2017, the Dolce String Ensemble in 2019, and the Jr. Jazz Orchestra in 2021. Other small ensembles performed over the years, as the personnel in the ensembles changed. In January 2020, YMI opened the Suzuki School of Music in the most dramatic expansion to date. Offering musical instruction for students ranging in age from 4 to 18, the Suzuki School continues the legacy of Patricia Hackler, co-founder of both the Pekin Suzuki Program and CIYS.
The board of directors voted to update Central Illinois Youth Symphony’s name to Youth Music Illinois in 2017 to communicate the scope of the programs offered by the organization.
Realizing the enthusiasm young musicians showed for Youth Symphony, the organization expanded with the establishment of the Concert Orchestra in 1970. Expansion continued with the Preparatory Orchestra in 1995, the Percussion Ensemble in 1997, the Sr. Jazz Orchestra in 2017, the Dolce String Ensemble in 2019, and the Jr. Jazz Orchestra in 2021. Other small ensembles performed over the years, as the personnel in the ensembles changed. In January 2020, YMI opened the Suzuki School of Music in the most dramatic expansion to date. Offering musical instruction for students ranging in age from 4 to 18, the Suzuki School continues the legacy of Patricia Hackler, co-founder of both the Pekin Suzuki Program and CIYS.
The board of directors voted to update Central Illinois Youth Symphony’s name to Youth Music Illinois in 2017 to communicate the scope of the programs offered by the organization.