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Quarter Notes The June 2010 MYS newsletter is now available. Click here to download it as a PDF.

MYS featured on Twin Cities Public Television
On June 17, 2010, MYS was featured on the new tpt arts program MN Original. Click here to watch the segment online.

MYS students in the Malik Quartet voted Audience Favorite at String Quartet Competition
MYS students Melissa Deal, second violin; Mark Hatlestad, viola; and John Belk, cello are members of the Malik Quartet and were voted “Audience Favorite” at the April 17, 2010 Saint Paul String Quartet Competition. MPR was present to record the finalists, and the recordings can be found here.

Letter from One Nation composer Kevin McMullin to MYS
Click here to read a letter from One Nation composer Kevin McMullin written to MYS, particularly Jim Bartsch and the Philharmonic Orchestra, for their outstanding performance of One Nation on February 7, 2010.

Quarter Notes, the MYS newsletter for December 2009 is available online. Click here to download.

MYS student Jade Hagberg featured in KSTP’s “On The Road”
Click here to watch the video.

MYS in the Southwest Journal
Click here to read the Southwest Journal’s recent article about MYS and students Clare Engen, Hannah MacLeod and Michael Nelson.

MYS String Studio featured in United Arts video.

Alumni Out in the World

Over the past 35 years, MYS has been a musical home for thousands of Minnesota’s most talented young musicians. Our alumni have entered the top music conservatories and universities in the country – Juilliard, Curtis Institute of Music, New England Conservatory, Johns Hopkins University and Harvard. Here are just a few of the many MYS alumni who have careers as professional musicians:

Ilya Finkelshteyn (1990-1991)
Cello, Cincinnati Symphony

Sandy Johnson (1992-1998)
Bassoon, Air Force Concert Band, Washington, D.C.

Dona Vellek Klein (1972-1973)
Assistant Principal Cello, Atlanta Symphony

Greg Knudsen (1989-91)
Principal Trumpet, New Florida West Coast Symphony and Sarasota Orchestra

Alicia Koelz (1989-1999)
Violin, Cleveland Orchestra

Bernhard Scully (1993-1995)
Principal Horn, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra

Lisa Svejkovsky Schaffer (1975-1985)
Cello, Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra

Paul Straka (1973-1976)
Horn, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra

Nicholas Trygstad (1991-1998)
Principal Cello, Hallé Orchestra, Manchester, England

Ben Ullery (1990-1992)
Viola, Minnesota Orchestra

Jessica Valeri (1991-1993)
Horn, San Francisco Symphony