Become a supporter

As a young child I begged and begged my parents to allow me to play the flute. I was somewhat of a whimsical kid, passionately giving myself to big dreams then quickly finding even bigger dreams to follow. Knowing this, my parents wisely made me what a year or two to be sure this wasn’t a fleeting desire. By the time I was ten I had convinced them I was ready for lessons and I received my first flute! As a homeschool student I lacked local opportunities to play with an orchestra or band. In the fall of 2003 we caught word that the Decatur Youth Symphony (which had been strings only up to this point) was ready to add the other orchestral instruments. In the spring of 2004 I proudly joined as one of the first flute players to perform with the symphony–I was elated. 

I played with the symphony throughout high school and began to study violin with Sharon Landis and then our very own Jacob Frank. I returned home from my sophomore year of college to perform as a solo artist with the orchestra during the summer “Concerts in the Park” series in 2011. I value my personal and rich history with the youth symphony.

Years later; after two theater arts degrees, traveling across the country playing music, and teaching language and performing arts classes; I now serve as Executive Director of the very organization which helped shape my arts journey. This full-circle experience is both humbling and rewarding. It’s my hope that I can do for our students what this organization did for me–inspire, shape, and create pathways to success. 

Without dedicated partners to the Youth Symphony mission my life would probably look very different! Your contribution would play such a large role in being able to continue the legacy of transforming lives through music. 

Sincerely,