About Youth Music Illinois
Youth Music Illinois (then called the Central Illinois Youth Symphony) was founded in 1965 by a group of music educators as a way to showcase the best players in the Peoria District 150 high school orchestras. Since then, it's grown to include two string ensembles, two full orchestras, two jazz ensembles, a percussion ensemble, and a Suzuki School of Music. No longer serving only Peoria, our students come from 30 communities in Central Illinois - often from as far away as Bloomington or Galesburg. Alumni from Youth Music Illinois have gone on to become musicians in some of the nation's top orchestras, but also work in a whole host of other career paths all over the world. Some even return to direct ensembles and teach Suzuki lessons at YMI!
We are thrilled to be able to offer the programs that we do, and hope that the founders would be proud of the way we carry on their legacy to serve student musicians in Central Illinois.
Our mission - To mentor youth to develop their skills - both for music and life.
Our vision - Youth Music Illinois enriches and unites our community by fostering a lifelong appreciation of the arts.
Our values - At YMI, we value excellence in performance, growth in knowledge and ability, collaboration with other community groups, creativity in our operations, community, and joy in music making
We are thrilled to be able to offer the programs that we do, and hope that the founders would be proud of the way we carry on their legacy to serve student musicians in Central Illinois.
Our mission - To mentor youth to develop their skills - both for music and life.
Our vision - Youth Music Illinois enriches and unites our community by fostering a lifelong appreciation of the arts.
Our values - At YMI, we value excellence in performance, growth in knowledge and ability, collaboration with other community groups, creativity in our operations, community, and joy in music making