2021 YMCO Summer Institute
The 2021 YMCO Summer Institute came to an end on Friday, July 23rd with an exciting performance of "MAMBO! A Celebration of Bernstein's Westside Store," held at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. This year, the summer institute was held at Claremont Middle School in Oakland, CA.
The choral orchestra kicked off the night with Bernstein's choral piece, "Take Care of this House," alongside world-renowned mezzo-soprano, Frederica von Stade, and then marched to their instruments to perform Danzon No. 2 (Arturo Marquez), West Side Story Medley, and Mambo. Mambo received an encore and a standing ovation!
The graduating seniors were then presented with special awards from the office of US Congresswoman Barbara Lee. We are proud to say that all 7 graduating seniors will be attending four-year universities on full or substantial scholarship in the fall.
Frederica von Stade then sang Bernstein's "Somewhere" with rising senior, Ajani Harris, followed by several solo performances from the Opera/Musical Theater group. The night came to an exciting ending when the Jazz Big Band started doing the mambo onstage!
Photo Gallery
Video Gallery
2019 Summer Institute
Choral Orchestra Members
Flute
Nathan Belcher
Astrid Chopp
Quincy Schreiber
Clarinet
Corryn Bailey
Heleena Getahun
Mariah Joy Harris
Mateo Martinez-Alejo
Ryan Pham
Bassoon
Benjamin Nguyen
Heriberto Velez
French Horn
Ajani Harris*
Daniel Kariuki
Rayel Wilson
Trumpet
Emilio Bracken-Serra
Giovanni Garcia*
Julian Gonzales-Gutierrez
Margaret Kariuki
Ryan Pham
Leonard Rai-Abesamis
Israel Rangel-Mejia
Trombone
Gus Goldstone
Francisco Tapia
Brian Velez
Oboe
Edwin Solano
Tuba
Francisco Tapia
Violin
Taraja Collins
Alejandra Cornejo
Haylee Hancock
Khristle Jordan
Grace Kariithi
Cymona Nguyen
Isaac Nguyen
Alondra Pacas
Fiona Qiu
Kaylee Solano
Raymond Smith
Nathan Uy
Ava Victoriano
Rachel White*
Viola
Corryn Bailey
Erma Espinueva
Adam Green*
Vincent Hu
Haile Rosengren
Wesley Zhao
Cello
Kayin Beth
DJ Jackson
Timothy Kariithi
Angelina Liu
Brissa Mejia*
Lea Williamson
Bass
Lucila de Anda-Castaneda
Tip Hood
Brendan Kariithi
Brian Juarez*
Yafeu Tyhimba*
Percussion
Jeffrey Ng
Max Nguyen
Nimah Rowden
Nico Thomas
Genius Wesley
2019 Summer Institute
Jazz Big Band Members
Heleena Getahun, alto saxophone
Quincy Schreiber, alto saxophone
Monte Metal, alto saxophone*
Jocelyn Bailey, tenor saxophone
Ajani Harris, tenor saxophone*
Raymond Smith, tenor saxophone
Heriberto Velez, baritone saxophone
Gus Goldstone, trombone
Jerry Okina, trombone
Mateo Shul, trombone
Francisco Tapia, trombone
Sebastian Borg, trumpet
Emilio Bracken-Serra, trumpet
Giovanni Garcia, trumpet
Ryan Pham, trumpet
Julian Gonzalez, trumpet
Luis Peralta, piano
Lucila de Anda, bass
Tip Hood, bass
Yafeu Tyhimba,* bass
Nimah Rowden, percussion
Genius Wesley, percussion
Kieran Bracken-Serra, percussion
2019 Summer Institute
Opera/ Musical Theater Members
Leilani Andres, soprano
Erma Espinueva, soprano
Ajani Harris, tenor
Khristle Jordan, soprano
Abel Mahari, tenor
Cymona Nguyen, soprano
Elliott Nguyen,* bass
Ryan Pham, treble
Israel Rangel-Mejia, treble
Vivian Stover,* mezzo-soprano
Alyssa Tan, soprano
Olivia Stapp, Stage Director
James Meredith, Artistic Director/Pianist
YMCO Director of Vocal Studies
2019 Summer Institute
Staff Members
Daisy Newman, Executive Director
Geechi Taylor, Director of Operations/ Jazz Big Band Conductor
Jaymes Kirksey, Choral Orchestra Conductor/ Violin Instructor
James Meredith, Artistic Director/Pianist/ YMCO Director of Vocal Studies
Brissa Mejia, Alumni Instructor
Vyoma Oza, Alumni Instructor
Vivian Stover, Alumni Instructor
Yafeu Tyhimba, Alumni Instructor
Tristan Williams, Viola Instructor