Young Chamber Musicians Fosters Community Engagement
Jeffrey LaDeur, YCM Piano Coordinator
Young Chamber Musicians (YCM) continues to strengthen its community ties through transformative outreach initiatives. This spring, YCM students and faculty shared their artistry with audiences across the Bay Area blending education, performance, and intergenerational connection.
On February 11, 2025, YCM Piano Coordinator Jeffrey LaDeur led a seminar dissecting iconic piano quintets by Schumann, Brahms, Dvorak, and Shostakovich. Tailored for young musicians, the session addressed the challenges of mastering complex ensemble pieces with limited rehearsal time. LaDeur offered strategies for interpreting these works and teaching students skills to execute these works with confidence and artistry.
The momentum continued on March 18, when the Mariposa Trio ( Isaac Choi, piano; Aaron Ma, violin; and Cara Wang cello) joined YCM Director Susan Bates and LaDeur for a performance and masterclass at San Mateo’s Peninsula Regent retirement community. The event underscored YCM’s decade-long commitment to connecting young artists with seniors. "An important part of the Young Chamber Musicians curriculum is public performance," Bates remarks. "For ten years YCM ensembles have offered concerts in retirement communities throughout the Peninsula area to test [the students] skills and share their music with seniors who often cannot travel to enjoy live music."
YCM’s outreach will continue on April 21, 2025, as the Aves Trio (pianist Jacob Rockower, violinist Euisun Hong, and cellist Huisun Hong) and the Mariposa Trio take the stage at Rossmoor Senior Living’s “Chamber Music: The Next Generation” concert. This annual event highlights emerging talent presented by the Rossmoor Chamber Music Society and aims to foster dialogue between generations through music. The Rossmoor community is comprised of adults 55 years of age and older.
By merging education with community engagement, YCM not only hones the skills of young musicians but also ensures classical music remains a vibrant, shared experience.