President
Susan Sheridan

Vice President
Aviva Leonard

Treasurer
Norma Patterson

Secretary
Eileen Uebelacker

Immediate Past President
Firouzeh Nourzad

Music Advisory Panel

Liason to the Board
Joan Schoepflin

PIANO
Connie Hungate
Lois Jacobson
Michiko Miyamoto
Pamela Chang-Rice
Joan Schoepflin
Willard Schultz
Mary Toy

VIOLIN/VIOLA
Jan Coleman
Sanja Futterman
Martha Garrett
Margaret Pressley

CELLO/STRING BASS
Leslie Marckx

WOODWIND
Laura Werner
Wendy Wilhelmi

Board of Directors

Sandra Labadie
Aviva Leonard
Laurel Lisez
Pamela Liu
Quynhgiao Le
Alex McIntosh
Jane Miyamoto-Dell’Isola
Nancy Moore
Veronica Ness
Norma Patterson
Raymond Pokorny
Susan Sheridan
Eileen Uebelacker
Wendy Wilhelmi

The Seattle Young Artists Music Festival Association is a volunteer, not-for-profit 501-(c)-(3) organization dedicated to extending educational and performance opportunities to young musicians.


Our History
The Seattle Young Artists Music Festival Association was founded in 1970 with a non-competitive philosophy focused on musicianship and the development of performance artistry. The un-graded master class format uniquely distinguishes the Seattle Festival from most others, and enables Festival adjudicators to focus on teaching in an interactive learning environment for festival entrants.

Since its inception, national adjudicators of outstanding quality have been a hallmark of the SYAMFA Festival. Adjudicators come from such prestigious music institutions as the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra of New York, The Juilliard school, Oberlin Conservatory, Eastman, The Curtis Institute, The Cleveland Institute, and many other renowned music programs. The result of these two combined values is often substantial growth in the musicianship of the participating young artists and a greater mastery of their chosen instrument.

For many years, the festival was held in local area churches and other small venues but for nearly two decades, the Festival has partnered with the University of Washington School of Music where the annual event now occupies the entire Music Building during the University's spring break.

How we are Organized
The Seattle Young Artists Music Festival Association is comprised of two separate groups, the Music Advisory Panel and the Board of Directors. Both groups are staffed entirely by volunteers.

The Music Advisory Panel members are all prominent local music educators. They have the critical task of selecting Festival Adjudicators and provide expertise on issues pertaining to the standards of music and the teachers' point of view. The Panel reviews all entrance applications for compliance with the rules governing repertoire and performance practice, grants acceptance to the Festival, and staffs the Festival with class monitors.

The Board of Directors is staffed by individuals from a broad range of backgrounds who share an interest in music and a strong belief in the importance of the Festival as an unparalleled performance and educational experience for aspiring young musicians. The Board engages the adjudicators, manages their transportation and accomodations, contracts with venues, designs, implements and maintains the technology systems, registers and schedules participants, publishes the printed materials, conducts fundraising efforts, and staffs the operations during both the week long Festival and Concerto Winners Concert.

Volunteers
The SYAMFA Board of Directors, Music Advisory Panel, and Festival Operations Staff are all volunteers. Only the Adjudicators providing instruction are compensated. Those interested in supporting the Festival are urged to contact any member of the Board. We are always looking for volunteers and you needn't to be a musician to help. Interested? Please contact us.

Funding and Contributions
The Seattle Young Artists Music Festival Association is funded through a combination of entry fees and donations. Our events could not take place without the generous support of those who contribute each year. The SYAMFA is a 501-(c)-(3) Non-Profit Arts organization and donations are tax deductible. The Festival Board, Music Advisory Panel, and Participants thank you for your support. To make a contribution, click here: contributions

Founders
The Seattle Young Artists Music Festival was Founded by five Seattle area music educators seeking to improve both the musicianship and artistry of local young music students, and also improve the level of instruction offered by local music teachers. The Founders of the SYAMFA were:
Corry Celli
Randolph Hokanson
Michiko Miyamoto
Willard Schultz
Helen Taverniti