TWO POPULAR YAMAHA PROGRAMS HIGHLIGHT
COMMITMENT TO YOUNG MUSICIANS

GRAND RAPIDS, MI (May 23, 2003)—As proof of Yamaha Band & Orchestral Division's commitment to young musicians and music education, one needs look no further than two long-running programs: Yamaha Young Performing Artists and Sounds of Summer.

Yamaha Sounds of Summer Camp

Since 1989, Yamaha has honored talented young artists from across the country with the Yamaha Young Performing Artist (YYPA) Program. Designed to provide early career recognition for outstanding young musicians in the United States, each year hundreds of applicants, ages 16-21, undergo a rigorous taped audition process for a panel of national celebrity musicians. The 2003 YYPA winners are currently posted on the web. The deadline for 2004 contestants is March 1, 2004. Entry forms are available online.

This year's national awards concert will be held June 23 at Braden Auditorium on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal, IL, to kick off the Bands of America Summer Symposium. Winners will be guests of Yamaha for a weekend of rehearsals, master classes, special awards concerts and social events. Past recipients of this honor have received scholarships to prestigious universities and conservatories, and many play professionally with major jazz groups and top symphony orchestras.

Sounds of Summer camps (co-sponsored by local music retailers) offer young percussion artists the opportunity to sharpen their skills while having a good time. The challenging, action-packed outdoor percussion camps enable kids to have fun and "slam in the sun" while learning from some of the best in the business; this year's faculty will include some of the finest marching percussion instructors in the world, including staff from The Crossmen, The Cadets of Bergen County, The Rosemont Cavaliers and The Madison Scouts, as well as renowned Drum Corps International Hall of Famer Dennis DeLucia.

Interested students and parents can click here for a list of 2003 camps. There is still time for music retailers to co-host a camp and be the focal point of young musician's creative energy; those interested are encouraged to contact Yamaha Corporation of America, Band & Orchestral Division, 3445 East Paris Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49518; call (616) 940-4900 or send e-mail to infostation@yamaha.com.