The Music in the Mountains Youth Orchestra (MIMYO) begins its spring session on January 13th 2025 and is now enrolling new students.
The region’s only youth orchestra, MIMYO, will begin instruction for the 2025 Spring Semester on Monday, January 13th with rehearsals held at Sierra College. The program is open to students in grades 4 through high school and offers two levels of play. The Stepping Up Orchestra is open to those new to group performance and graduate to the Core Orchestra for experienced ensemble players who learn under the direction of professional musician and flutist, Shannon Devir.
“It’s amazing to see how much our participants grow and come alive as they learn to play an instrument,” notes MIMYO Conductor Shannon Devir. “I love working with these kids each week. MIMYO gives young people the opportunity to celebrate hard work and to discover the joy of building something as a team.”
Flutist and piccolo player Shannon Devir received her Bachelor of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She currently plays with the InConcert Sierra Orchestra, and has performed with MIM, Auburn Symphony, Victoria Symphony, Ballet Victoria, Opera Pacific, and the Classical Philharmonic. Ms. Devir has held teaching positions at the University of San Francisco, The San Francisco Waldorf School, Nevada City School of the Arts, and Music in the Mountains. Currently she is the director of the Music in the Mountains Youth Orchestra and the lead educator with Music in the Mountains’ Music for Young Minds program. She has a passion for sharing the art of music and thrives on working with musicians across Nevada County to realize their full potential.
Rehearsals are supported by the Music in the Mountains Education team along with several mentors specializing in various orchestra instruments. The sessions will be held Mondays, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., with two performances throughout the year. The first rehearsal will be August 26. The registration fee for the Core Orchestra is $185 per session and $150 per session for the Stepping Up Orchestra with discounts offered if two sessions are paid for at the same time. Contact Music in the Mountains for information about scholarship opportunities and family discounts.
“The program offers a very high caliber of instruction,” explains Marge Shasberger, MIM education programs manager. String, woodwind, brass and percussion students will work on a variety of classical and contemporary repertoire during weekly rehearsals, with material customized to each participant’s level of playing. Players will explore the art of playing in an ensemble setting with the entire orchestra and in sectional groups for their various instrument families.
Interested students may contact Marge Shasberger, education programs manager at marges@musicinthemountains.org, or call (530) 265-6173. The MIM Education Office is located in downtown Grass Valley and is open 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm Tuesday through Friday.
MIMYO is generously underwritten by Julia Amaral and Mark Straite and is a program of Music in the Mountains.In addition to their youth programs, Music in the Mountains hosts an auditioned community chorus and produces world-class musical performances in Nevada County.
Music in the Mountains is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in Nevada County in 1982. Music in the Mountains strives to provide accessible education programs for everyone and offers a wide range of programming for the community. MIM values creating connections among the diverse members of our community, fostering communication and unity through the beauty of music. MIM partners locally and regionally with community organizations and has performed with the Auburn Symphony, the Folsom Lake Symphony, the Sacramento Choral Society, and the Sacramento Children’s Chorus.
Music in the Mountains is supported locally by volunteers, sponsors, and donors. To learn more, visit www.musicinthemountains.org.